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UK: Deserted streets greet soldiers' parade on their return from Afghanistan
The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | October 6, 2007 | MICHAEL SEAMARK and ARTHUR MARTIN

Posted on 10/05/2007 5:47:04 PM PDT by Stoat

A homecoming fit for heroes? Deserted streets greet soldiers' parade on their return from Afghanistan

by MICHAEL SEAMARK and ARTHUR MARTIN - More by this author » Last updated at 00:45am on 6th October 2007

  After six months risking their lives against the Taliban in Afghanistan, they might have expected a token show of appreciation from a grateful public.

 

But as they paraded through Abingdon in Oxfordshire, these brave soldiers had the streets almost to themselves.

Four hundred men from the 4th Logistic Support Regiment - dressed in desert fatigues - were virtually ignored on their march to St Helen's Church for a thanksgiving service.

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4th Logistic Support Regiment

Church parade - minus the congregation. As the men from the 4th Logistic Support Regiment march through Abingdon, the pavements are almost deserted

Admittedly there had been little local publicity for the parade. But the scene starkly underlines the warning issued by the head of the Army last month that troops' willingness to serve in conflict zones is being sapped by apathy at home.

General Sir Richard Dannatt said soldiers returning from dangerous tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan were dismayed to find the public could be "dismissive or indifferent" to their experiences.

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4th Logistic Support Regiment

Back from the desert: The men in their fatigues head for their thanksgiving service

More than 1,000 troops from the 3rd and 4th Logistic Support Regiments, stationed at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon, have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One member of the 3rd - who are still in Iraq - was killed in Basra last month.

Sgt Mark Stansfield, 32, from Bicester, died in hospital after an accident while carrying out security checks at an ammunition supply point.

Nigel Warner, town clerk of Abingdon, watched the parade and said there were a "fair few people out - it's always difficult to be accurate with figures. I think there was a reasonable turnout in the High Street. The Mayor Lorraine Oates said some words to the troops".

He said the council had given both 3rd and 4th Regiments, which moved to the barracks ten years ago, the Freedom of Abingdon last July when there were "lots and lots of people out".

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4th Logistic Support Regiment

United they stand on the streets of Abingdon in Oxfordshire

Mr Warner added that the authority is planning a joint celebration in the New Year when both regiments are at the barracks.

"The 3rd are not back from Iraq until November so we are planning to have a public event for both of them whereby the town gives thanks to the soldiers directly.

"It will be a large public event followed by some sort of civic reception. Today was something the Army organised and it was a fairly low-key event."

Nevertheless, the pitiful turnout provoked angry criticism of the nation's reluctance to show support for soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, where 170 troops have already died.

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4th Logistic Support Regiment

A lone spectator applauds the soldiers as they parade through the streets

Tory defence spokesman Gerald Howarth said: "There is an apathy and it's dangerous. These guys do as they are asked by the government of the day and this is a critical part of being a soldier.

"If people seem completely uninterested - which they are - then they will have no real comprehension of what the Armed Forces do. They watch what's happening in Afghanistan and Iraq on the television and then go about their lives, detached from what is happening to our soldiers. These guys deserve our support."

Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander, said: "Sadly, if you have a parade every time a unit comes home we are going to have more parades than spectators. Nonetheless, this is terribly disappointing for an outstanding unit."

This week in the Daily Mail Colonel Jorge Mendonca, the decorated war hero who left the Army in disgust following his politically-motivated court martial, warned that Britain was in peril if we no longer respect our fighting men and women.

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qe2

What a contrast: Cheers, Union flags and tears of joy greeted the arrival of the Crew of HMS Ark Royal in 2003

 

A British Army commander killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan yesterday was the most senior UK serviceman to die in the country so far.

The major, who was serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, brings the death toll since British forces began fighting in Afghanistan six years ago to 82.

He died when a booby-trap bomb blasted his armoured vehicle as his troops were returning to their main base in Kandahar, following days of fierce fighting against the Taliban in neighbouring Helmand Province.

The Vector armoured truck was one of a fleet purchased specially by the MoD last year to provide extra protection for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but its armour proved too weak to protect the soldiers inside.

The attack occurred in the desert around 20 miles west of the sprawling main Nato base in Kandahar Province.

• The Army is so short of soldiers that it has hired Group 4 Securicor to help train British troops heading for frontline operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The £7million contract will see the private company's staff being paid to demonstrate key military skills such as quelling riots, storming enemy compounds and carrying out vehicle checks - as well as dressing up to play the parts of enemy fighters or local civilians in training exercises.

Currently such demonstrations and play-acting are carried out by serving British soldiers who are drawn from other units to help their colleagues prepare for hazardous operations abroad.

But with the Army struggling to cope with the demands of simultaneous operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence admitted yesterday that the ground-breaking deal was intended to "free up resources".

Although the Army uses small numbers of civilians in specialist training such as language classes, this is the first time it has used private companies to provide more general training in front-line operationalskills.

Group Four Securicor stressed that it would use only former soldiers, mostly recentlyretired Gurkhas, to fulfil the training contract.

But the latest move was seen as a further sign of the severe overstretch facing the UK armed forces, who have faced drastic manpower cuts in recent years despite the heavy demands of fighting overseas.

The British Army is at its smallest in modern times, with only 99,350 trained soldiers according to latest MoD figures - and almost 2,500 posts left vacant owing to recruitment and retention problems.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; apathy; britain; england; greatbritain; military; parade; soldiers; uk; uktroops; unitedkingdom; welcomehome
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Admittedly there had been little local publicity for the parade.

Then the fault lies squarely at the feet of all relevant Governmental officials including the Mayor, Lorraine Oates and not necessarily the public. 

Abingdon Town Council - Town Councillor -Ward list

Here's an example of local publicity in the press:

Regiment To March Through Abingdon (from Abingdon Herald)

Regiment to march through Abingdon

SOLDIERS from Dalton Barracks, near Abingdon, recently returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, will march through the town's streets tomorrow for a Thanksgiving service at St Helen's Church.

The 400 soldiers of 4 Logistic Support Regiment will assemble outside the Guildhall at 10.30am, where they will meet town mayor Lorraine Oates and the Vale of White Horse District Council vice-chairman Alison Rooke.

From the Guildhall, the soldiers will march along East St Helen Street to the church for a service conducted by the vicar, the Rev Dr Charles Miller.

The parade will be led by the station commander, Colonel David Kelly, and the regiment's commanding officer, Lt Col Darrell Amison. Mrs Oates said: "The Army at Dalton Barracks was given the Freedom of the town last year and I welcome this event.

"The soldiers have returned safely from a very dangerous part of the world and deserve our thanks.

More than 1,000 troops stationed at Dalton Barracks have served and continue to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq. 4LSR is back home and, in November, another 500 troops deployed in Iraq with 3LSR will begin their return.

The regiment lost Sgt Mark Stansfield, 32, from Bicester, who died in hospital from injuries he received in an accident involving a forklift truck while carrying out security checks at an ammunition supply point at Basra air station.

9:00am Thursday 4th October 2007


1 posted on 10/05/2007 5:47:14 PM PDT by Stoat
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To: Stoat

Apparently, things haven’t changed much since Kipling’s day.

Tommy
I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:

O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.

Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy how’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;

While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind,”
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool - you bet that Tommy sees!


2 posted on 10/05/2007 5:53:15 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: Stoat

I’m pretty much speechless.


3 posted on 10/05/2007 5:53:55 PM PDT by Bahbah
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To: Stoat

Wow, how unthoughtful of the populace of that town.


4 posted on 10/05/2007 5:54:18 PM PDT by padre35 (Conservative in Exile/ No more miller brewing products, pass it on....)
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To: All
More contact information if you would like to make your feelings known.

Abingdon Town Council - Resident Information & Useful Links

Abingdon Town Council is the parish office of the Town Clerk and Mayor of Abingdon

Town Council Offices                                01235 522642                 www.abingdongov.uk

Abingdon Information Centre                      01235 522711                www.abingdongov.uk
                                                                                                   info@abingdon.gov.uk 
Mayor's Personal Assistant                      01235 522642


5 posted on 10/05/2007 5:54:34 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

That is really pathetic.


6 posted on 10/05/2007 5:57:00 PM PDT by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: Stoat

Seeing those pictures really ticks me off- they deserve a hell of a lot better than that. Makes me want to call the people of Britain ingrates.


7 posted on 10/05/2007 6:00:39 PM PDT by MissEdie (On the Sixth Day God created Spurrier)
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To: padre35; All
Wow, how unthoughtful of the populace of that town.

In fall fairness, I'm hesitant to put a lot of blame on the people there because of this line in the article:

Admittedly there had been little local publicity for the parade.

At this point I am most inclined to blame the Mayor and other officials for not providing the public with enough information.

8 posted on 10/05/2007 6:01:01 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: MissEdie
Seeing those pictures really ticks me off- they deserve a hell of a lot better than that.

Agreed.

 Makes me want to call the people of Britain ingrates.

Please don't be too eager to blame all of our British Friends.

In fall fairness, I'm hesitant to put a lot of blame on the people there because of this line in the article:

Admittedly there had been little local publicity for the parade.

At this point I am most inclined to blame the Mayor and other officials for not providing the public with enough information.

9 posted on 10/05/2007 6:03:34 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

Just very, very sad!


10 posted on 10/05/2007 6:07:40 PM PDT by OldCorps
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To: Stoat
Heartbreaking pics.

For what little it may be worth, thanks from across the pond to you British soldiers.

11 posted on 10/05/2007 6:07:41 PM PDT by dighton
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To: Stoat
Then the fault lies squarely at the feet of all relevant Governmental officials including the Mayor, Lorraine Oates and not necessarily the public.

Indeed. Why, is an anti-war type wanted to generate a photo op to "show" how the public was unsupportive, they would be hard-pressed to find a better way to do it.

12 posted on 10/05/2007 6:08:06 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: pissant

About as pathetic as the treatment of our Marines at the Oakland Airport.


13 posted on 10/05/2007 6:12:50 PM PDT by mware (By all that you hold dear..on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
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To: mware

Indeed. But that was just a couple of boneheads, I assume.


14 posted on 10/05/2007 6:18:44 PM PDT by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: Stoat
If they didn't publicize it, and it's during a week day (if I'm reading it right), I'm not surprised.

The article definitely makes it sound like the Brits don't support the military, which is not the case - they do.
15 posted on 10/05/2007 6:24:41 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: pissant
I wish that was so, but I think it is more than that. Look how San Francisco would not even allow the Marines to film in their streets.

Oh God that have that woman from Code Pink trying to defend the attacks on Marine Recruit Building.

16 posted on 10/05/2007 6:25:59 PM PDT by mware (By all that you hold dear..on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
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To: pissant
Sorry about that last comment. I was so angry I did not even explain the woman from Code Pink was on Hannity & Colmes.

BTW here is one of the coolest video from the Royal Dragoons while in Iraq.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxQPbLIsmh4

17 posted on 10/05/2007 6:30:06 PM PDT by mware (By all that you hold dear..on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
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To: pissant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxQPbLIsmh4


18 posted on 10/05/2007 6:30:44 PM PDT by mware (By all that you hold dear..on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
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To: Stoat

It’s a long way to Tipperary...


19 posted on 10/05/2007 6:30:53 PM PDT by pbear8 (Padre Pio please pray for Tony Snow)
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To: pbear8
t’s a long way to Tipperary...

My great hope is that it will be a very long time before the Mayor gets any peace from all of the righteous and completely justified anger directed at her.

This is inexcusable, and suggests either a willful neglect or a breathtaking level of incompetence on her part.

 

20 posted on 10/05/2007 7:25:51 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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