Afghanistan CO's Update 3

Dear All,

Sorry for the delay in posting another update, but our services are in demand over here and do not get too much opportunity to log on.

I’m pleased to announce that Capt Matt Hughes and Sgt Mark Moore were discharged from Selly Oak Hospital on 14th May 07. Both had operations on their arms / hands and now seem to be making good progress. Mark is now back in Cyprus convalescing. Mark's wife, Michelle, flew back to the UK to visit him in hospital, staying with family in Lichfield. She then accompanied him back to Cyprus. He is doing well and is in good spirits, although he is reportedly getting bored with convalescing!

Matt Hughes is staying with his parents in the UK. He is returning to hospital in early June to assess whether he needs another operation. He is also going 'stir crazy' (his words) having nothing to do. We are now trying to arrange for him to spend at least a few days a week working in a military post somewhere, possibly with the 3rd (TA) Bn, or in HQ 160 (W) Bde in Brecon. I think that he'll accept anything, as long as it keeps him occupied!

All is well with us here at the moment. B Company Group are currently deployed on the ground and are doing some good work in putting pressure on the Taliban. No more than you'd expect.

D Company Group has deployed to Iraq and is based in the old Basra Air Station. Again, they are performing well, although they are not getting much uninterrupted sleep due to the indirect mortar and rocket fire that is being aimed at the camp every night. I'm sure that it won't take too long until they are able to sleep through the warning sirens.

A Company Group returned from 4 months in the Falkland Islands in early April and are due to finish their pre-operational deployment training this coming weekend. They will then be at high-readiness on Cyprus to act as a reserve for both Iraq and Afghanistan, should they be required in either theatre.

Finally, the Rear Party is doing sterling work keeping Episkopi going for our return in due course. They are also looking after the welfare of the families who are based in Cyprus and whose husbands are deployed. They have also been busy for 101 other reasons that I won't bore you with here, but I'd like to publicly pass on my thanks to all members of Rear Party for their efforts. It can be a thankless job requiring long hours. It can seem just like a 6 month tour, but without the medal at the end!

That's all for now; I’ll try to keep you updated as and when I am able. For those who have an ArmyNet account (for serving members and up to 5 guests of serving members), we have a Battalion website on ArmyNet which has restricted access which we control. If you access the link on the page and send a message to the web-master identifying yourself as being former RWF, a serving 1 R WELSH member, or a guest of a somebody serving with 1 R WELSH, we'll provide full access to the site where there are a number of regular updates posted, along with photographs.

Regards,

Huw James

DRH JAMES
Lt Col
CO 1 R WELSH (RWF)