Gorazde

[Dai]

Well worth a listen!!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/gorazde.shtml

[CHICO]

Cheers that brought back a few memories, and enhances the profesionlism of all Royal welchmen both past and present.

[robbo2284]

well done chico CQMS that cant spell PROFESSIONALISM what next LOL

[donbutts]

Hi mate hope you have a good new year take care

[Barry69]

Yes brought back a lot of memories, and Dave V and the team said it well, So many little stories all of us must have someone who was there should write a book!

Barry

[mikedonnelly]

Barry someone did and he is now a Lt Gen!!! you should have got in earlyer. If you want a realy good book about Gorazde try ''Safe Area Gorazde'' by Joe Sacco it tells the story before and after we where there. We have a mention on page 204: Quote '' During heavy shelling of 10 to 15 days the British soldiers left Gorazde and hid themselves in the deep forest, people realised we didnt have any protection from them'' not alot to say after that.

P.S its an easy read as it is written in Comic Book Form.

[beefy22]

Found this dont know if its been on the forum yet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/2534831.stm

[ap1]

Cheers Beefy, haven't seen that one. There was a lot of vitriol within the MOD aimed at the CO, following his little chat with the PM, which took place shortly after the boys were taken hostage, and the Serbs having a pop at taking the town.

Heres another couple of quotes, taken from the book Operation Deliberate Force, by Tim Ripley (ibsn 09536650 0 3) the first following the CO's virtually "One Way" 25 min conversation with the Prime Minister John Major:

A stream of senior officers including Gen Sir Michael Rose, were lined up to telephone Riley and tell him to stop rocking the boat. Reports from Gen Smith and Riley that the Serbs had actually tried to take Gorazde and the war was entering a new, more dangerous phase, were not welcome in certain high echelons of the British Army.

A very senior officer in JHQ, at Wilton, was heard to comment that Riley " should get back in his trench and die" and "Stop thinking too much"

Later, after the war was finished:

The Chief of the Defence Staff later praised Riley for his forthright views. " The Welch Fusiliers did bloody well" said Inge. "The Prime Minister got a bit of a shock. But commanding officers are not in popularity contests. If I was in the same situation I would have done the same."

I can always remember the CO's comments, passed via the OC's O Grp following the massacre at Srebrenica, and the actions of the Dutchbatt, regarding how we would respond to a similar assault on Gorazde. Words similar to "We will defend it, the British public would not expect anything less."

An outstanding man.

[Scouse75]

I recall speaking to the then CO, now Lt Gen Riley at the last Commrades weekend. And I know that one thing is for sure, that Senior Officer at JHQ is definately not on his Christmas card list. He has never forgotten that comment. I agree with you Al, he was a top CO out in Gorazde. I will always remember his response to me as I asked what was happening one day.

"Sorry Scouse, you will have to do the same as me, and listen to BBC world service for the answer!!".

All you can ask of your Command element is honesty. Top Bloke!

[sox3044]

got to agree with you scouse, we couldnt have wished for a better CO in the position we were in, and i dread to think what could have happened if we had some one not so forth coming and honest. He is a soldiers soldier and i think he will hold the respect from every 1 that served in Gorazda as a top bloke. I sincerley hope he goes all the way to the top. He wanted that tour and he got it, He always said it was going to be an exciting tour and that we would be in the thick of it. I will never for get the smile on his face when he told the Bn in the hanger that we were going.
Every dog has his day and im sure he will have his with those idiots that were sat in their cosy offices slagging him and the Regiment off.