Defence News

Defence News: 24 May 2013

Drummer Lee Rigby killed in Woolwich incident
Royal Navy submarine returns from longest patrol

Defence in the Media: 24 May 2013

Summary
There has been continuing coverage across the media of the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby,  who was killed in Woolwich, South East London, on Wednesday. His family paid tribute last night to "a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle", adding that he always wanted to be in the Army and "live life and enjoy himself".  | PA reports that the High Court rules today on a bid by 180 Iraqi civilians for a new inquiry into allegations that British troops committed "terrifying acts of brutality" following the invasion of Iraq. | Various media report that President Obama looked beyond the war on terror yesterday as he announced plans to scale back drone strikes and accelerate moves to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. | Various media report that Qinetiq, the former Ministry of Defence research business, may be forced to sell its US services division. | Various media report that the MOD has dropped its objection to the building of a large potash mine in Yorkshire. | The Guardian reports that the UN has warned that trades by the commodity companies Glencore and Trafigura could have breached international sanctions by supplying a company linked to Iran's nuclear programme. | The Independent reports that the UN Secretary General has warned armed rebels in eastern Congo that the organisation's new 'intervention brigade' would prevent any repeat of the fighting that has driven thousands of refugees out of camps this week. 

Image of the Day: 24 May 2013

Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine HMS Trenchant returned to Plymouth from a record-breaking 11-month deployment on Wednesday, 22 May;  the longest patrol ever completed by one of the Royal Navy's hunter-killer boats.  [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Ben Shread, Crown copyright]

Defence Diary: 24 May 2013

Today, Friday 24 May
Funeral in Blackpool of Fusilier Samuel Flint, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was killed in Afghanistan on 30 April 2013.
2 Signal Regiment freedom parade, York.
12 Logistic Support Regiment medal and freedom parade, Abingdon.

Sunday 26 May
Battle of the Atlantic commemorative service, Liverpool Cathedral.

Monday 27 May
Spring Bank Holiday.
TV programme of interest: 'Dive WWII: Our Secret History', BBC Northern Ireland, 2220hrs. A deepwater dive team search the seabed off the coast of Northern Ireland for the forgotten shipwrecks of the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic (episode 1 of 2).
Radio programme of interest: 'Signing Up at 16', BBC Radio 4, 1100hrs. A revealing series following a group of 16-year-old boys and girls through a year of training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate (episode 3 of 3).

Tuesday 28 May
1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles medal parade, Folkestone.
HMS Lancaster leaves Portsmouth for a six-month deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

Wednesday 29 May
2013 Trafalgar Cup rugby league match - the Parachute Regiment versus the Royal Marines, Colchester United Football Stadium.

Thursday 30 May
1st Battalion Scots Guards homecoming parade, Inverness.
20 Battery, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, medal parade, North Luffenham.

Friday 31 May
HMS Edinburgh's final entry into Portsmouth Naval Base.
1st Battalion Scots Guards homecoming parade, Edinburgh. 

Defence News: 23 May 2013

Woolwich attack victim confirmed as serving soldier
Royal Navy Lynx crews leave Helmand for last time
Mother of Victoria Cross hero speaks of her pride
Royals open military recovery centre

Defence in the Media: 23 May 2013

Summary
There is widespread coverage of the murder of a serving soldier in Woolwich yesterday. | There is further coverage of the news that ministers will make a decision by the end of the month about the package that will be offered to Afghan interpreters to live in the UK. | The Financial Times reports that Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that he is exhausted and has no intention of flouting the constitution by remaining in office beyond the end of his second term next year. | The Telegraph reports that a chain of schools run by ex-soldiers is being planned by the government after ministers approved the opening of Britain's first military-style academy. | The Guardian reports that a 61-year-old man appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering 4 soldiers in the IRA bombing of Hyde Park in 1982.

Image of the Day: 23 May 2013

His Royal Highness The Duke of York joined veterans of the Battle of Kohima yesterday, 22 May, for their annual memorial service and wreath-laying at York Minster. Nearly 4,000 British and Indian soldiers lost their lives at the Battle of Kohima in north-east India, which was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944, when allied forces halted the advance of the Japanese Army in Asia. The battle was ultimately to prove to be the turning point of the Burma Campaign. [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno RLC, Crown copyright]

Defence Diary: 23 May 2013

Today, Thursday 23 May
Royal Navy warships arrive in Liverpool for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic commemorations.
Chatham House members' event - North Korea and its Neighbours: A Region on the Brink?

Tomorrow, Friday 24 May
Funeral in Blackpool of Fusilier Samuel Flint, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was killed in Afghanistan on 30 April 2013.
2 Signal Regiment freedom parade, York.
12 Logistic Support Regiment medal and freedom parade, Abingdon.

Sunday 26 May
Battle of the Atlantic commemorative service, Liverpool Cathedral.

Monday 27 May
Spring Bank Holiday.
TV programme of interest: 'Dive WWII: Our Secret History', BBC Northern Ireland, 2220hrs. A deepwater dive team search the seabed off the coast of Northern Ireland for the forgotten shipwrecks of the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic (episode 1 of 2).
Radio programme of interest: 'Signing Up at 16', BBC Radio 4, 1100hrs. A revealing series following a group of 16-year-old boys and girls through a year of training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate (episode 3 of 3).

Tuesday 28 May
1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles medal parade, Folkestone.
HMS Lancaster leaves Portsmouth for a six-month deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

Wednesday 29 May
2013 Trafalgar Cup rugby league match - the Parachute Regiment versus the Royal Marines, Colchester United Football Stadium.

Thursday 30 May
1st Battalion Scots Guards homecoming parade, Inverness.
20 Battery, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, medal parade, North Luffenham.

Defence News: 22 May 2013

Defence Secretary visits UK forces training Mali troops
Royal Navy takes the lead in international exercise
Royal Marines train on Salisbury Plain

Defence in the Media: 22 May 2013

Summary
Various media report that up to 600 Afghan interpreters who worked alongside British troops are to be given the right to live in the UK. | There is widespread coverage of the family of Lance Corporal James Ashworth collecting his Victoria Cross from Her Majesty The Queen in a private ceremony yesterday. | The Daily Mail reports that an Army sniper has been paid £100,000 compensation after his identity was mistakenly revealed. | The Telegraph reports that 7 soldiers under the age of 18 were mistakenly deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2010. | The Times and The Sun report on the Defence Secretary saying during a visit to Mali that British troops will be deployed pre-emptively and in far smaller numbers to protect countries on the verge of collapse. | The Daily Express reports that Dame Judi Dench has launched a campaign to help raise £1 million to maintain the Bomber Command Memorial. | The Guardian has published an open letter to the Prime Minister from a group of actors, writers and campaigners criticising his plans to spend more than £50 million marking the centenary of the First World War. | The Sun reports that an RAF search and rescue helicopter and a naval warship tried to find a man who had fallen off a cross-channel passenger ferry. After 5 hours the search was called off. | The Telegraph reports that it has been revealed that the Ministry of Defence spent over £18,500 over five years on hiring evening dress wear for civil servants.