Posted on 04/23/2006 2:39:38 AM PDT by MadIvan
Prince Harry has threatened to quit the Army if commanders refuse to send him to the front line.
He told senior officers before recently passing out of Sandhurst as a Second Lieutenant: ‘If I am not allowed to join my unit in a war zone, I will hand in my uniform.’
Harry, 21, and third in line to the throne, has previously talked of his desire to see action with his comrades and the prospect of him walking out on the Army if he is not allowed on to the front line has turned a theoretical problem into a nightmare for the Palace and Ministry of Defence.
The embarrassment for the Army caused by him quitting would be matched by uproar at the notion that while ordinary citizens are allowed to that their main problem is not whether Harry can take the pressure of coming under fire in action – but whether the lives of the men fighting alongside him will be more at risk because he is regarded as a ‘trophy target’ by insurgents.
One experienced commander said: ‘Second Lt Wales will, as far as is possible, be treated like any other officer but there has to be a line drawn as to whether the men he leads might experience extra danger due to his presence. Decisions will be taken by commanding officers based on an accurate risk assessment at the time.’
In talks between the MoD and Clarence House, it has been suggested that if Harry is deployed to the front line he should be given a safe role, acting as a liaison officer at a military HQ well away from the action.
But sources close to Harry said last night: ‘He will go bananas if he is given special treatment. He doesn’t want to let the rest of the lads and lasses down by opting out. He was always the first to volunteer on exercises.’
In the final weeks of his Sandhurst training, Harry took part in an exercise in which he acted as commanding officer and sources say that his performance was ‘outstanding’.
The mobility of the Blues and Royals’ light Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles will be a great value in Afghanistan and senior commanders say the Cavalry unit could be sent to Helmand province to support Paras in what is regarded as one of the most dangerous parts of the world.
Harry would command a troop of 11 men who would drive into the front line in their Scimitars.
He would lead his men in searching possibly booby-trapped buildings, hunting down insurgents and providing escorts and combat support to infantry operations.
Harry would be required to command his Scimitar team and remain on the ground, although all troop commanders are expected to do their stint in the operations room, which involves logging events, co-ordinating patrols and directing support where needed.
The Household Cavalry – made up of the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards – is one of the most active units in the British Army and its most senior and oldest regiment.
It has troops attached to the Paras and the Marines, took part in the invasion of Iraq and has since deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Next month, a squadron of the Household Cavalry will go to Afghanistan in support of 16 Air Assault Brigade. A second squadron is on standby to deploy to Iraq this year and another is preparing to back 3 Commando Brigade when it departs to Afghanistan later this year.
D Squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) supported 16 Air Assault Brigade during the initial battles in the Iraq conflict. HCR also deployed two squadrons to Iraq in 2004.
A high percentage of its officers serve in the SAS and its squadrons support both the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment. The Household Cavalry’s Scimitars spearheaded the advance across the Falklands in 1982, led the way in Bosnia and were first into Saudi Arabia in 1991 before the first Gulf War and again in Iraq in 2003.
Elements of the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards have regularly deployed to Iraq and three Cavalrymen have been killed. They were Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, Lance Corporal Karl Shearer and Lieutenant Alexander Tweedie, all from the Blues and Royals.
Three years ago during the battle for Basra, Trooper Chris Finney of the Blues and Royals, who was just 19, won a rare George Cross for gallantry for saving his comrades after their Scimitar came under attack, by mistake, from American bombers.
Young men of Harry’s rank have regularly lost their lives in Iraq. Only a week ago, Lt Richard Palmer, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, died after his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb near Ad Day, north-west of Basra. In July 2005, Second Lt Richard Shearer, 26, from Nuneaton, of the 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment, died with Privates Leon Spicer and Phillip Hewett in a roadside bomb blast north of Basra.
Harry will be only the second Royal since the Second World War to be posted to a battle zone.
The other was Prince Andrew, who flew Sea King helicopters in the Falklands War. A Clarence House die for their country, members of the Royal Family are considered too important to risk. It would also reopen the debate about Britain’s role in engagements such as Iraq which are widely unpopular and considered by many to be illegal.
The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that the Palace and MoD were holding crisis talks about how to handle Harry’s future military role.
However, his ultimatum has now raised the stakes. It will also increase the urgency of deciding how to treat Prince William who is due to leave Sandhurst in December, presenting Royal and defence officials with the same dilemma about how near the front line he should be allowed.
Harry’s unit, the Blues and Royals, will deploy to Afghanistan this year and he is likely to join them there next year. Senior Army sources say
I do too. The other way the army could accomodate this is to not let it be known that he is at the front lines. They will only be specifically targeting him, if they know his troop is there.
Last member of the Royal Family to serve in action was HRH Prince Andrew, now the Duke of York in 1982.
Last member of the Royal Family to die on active service was HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1942. He had relinquished the rank of Air Vice Marshall to become an Air Commodore so that he could actually do some real work.
The last King to have definitely served in combat was King George VI who as HRH the Prince Albert served aboard HMS Collingwood at the Battle of Jutland in 1915.
King Edward VIII (as Prince of Wales) was awarded the Military Cross in 1916, but it's unclear how much service he actually saw. It was probably some, though he wasn't supposed to be fighting.
Not to pick on your post, but the Royals really have served with honour in the military, and at risk to themselves at times. It's nothing special - thousands of others have done the same - but nor should it be viewed as unusual. They are raised to serve their country and many take that very seriously.
I had the honour to serve for a time alongside the Duke of York, and I can also say that the Prince of Wales did his duty during his much briefer service in the military from knowing men who served alongside him. The Duke of Edinburgh (before his marriage to the Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen) saw combat during the Second World War. Her Majesty served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during that war.
Harry comes from a genuine military tradition, as well as a Royal tradition.
his issued uniform, or his halloween costume?
I was about to ping you to this. Sounds like he is getting his life in order. He is in my prayers. :)
Sounds like the Red Blood of an Englishman runs through his viens....
Salute and thanksgiving for Harry.
A young man a mother would be proud to call her son.
With all the turbulence, maybe our Left will see why it is the Bush ladies need to stay out of cammies.
Hey Star, did you see this?
This doesn't sound like a 'Halloween Costume'
>>>But sources close to Harry said last night: ‘He will go bananas if he is given special treatment. He doesn’t want to let the rest of the lads and lasses down by opting out. He was always the first to volunteer on exercises.’
In the final weeks of his Sandhurst training, Harry took part in an exercise in which he acted as commanding officer and sources say that his performance was ‘outstanding’. <<<<
I'm talking about the armband he thought was clever to be wearing.
Ah! I remember that.
Sounds like he's got a bit of what his great-grandmother had. That's a good sign for the royals
Kids do dumb things sometimes.
And he's a year older now.
A year at Sandhurst is probably worth five normal years in terms of increased maturity.
Thanks for the correction. Always good to hear from the informed.
>>>Kids do dumb things sometimes
IMO, especially if you are referred in life as the 'spare'.
I would never want to have my children raised in the pressure of the public eye.
Maybe all of the pressure of public life will turn into a positive impact with him exerting this leadership via the military.
"Three years ago during the battle for Basra, Trooper Chris Finney of the Blues and Royals, who was just 19, won a rare George Cross for gallantry.."
I would have been willing to swear that they stopped awarding the George Cross. I recall reading that some where and wondering why?
The solution to should he stay or should he go is simple: Ask his fellows in the quietest of ways whether or not his presence is a danger that they fear.
Definitely worth a Bump.
It's no longer awarded in some of the larger Commonwealth Countries (such as Australia and Canada) as we have introduced our own Honours systems to replace the Imperial system. The Victoria Cross was kept at the peak because of its special place in our history (although Canada has altered its appearance very slightly) but the George Cross has been replaced.
In Australia it was replaced by the Cross of Valour, which was awarded to two of the heroes of the Bali bombings. Unfortunately few people seem to be aware of the equivalency and so they have been denied much of the recognition they deserve. I believe we should have kept the GC as well as the VC.
How would you like to rely on Prince Harry in a combat situation?
"I believe we should have kept the GC as well as the VC."
That was my idea as well.
I MUST have been reading about Canada since I thought as well that the GC had been replaced by the VC.
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