Defence News

Defence News: 31 August 2012

Military chiefs thank personnel for Paralympics security
Royal Marines ready for Afghanistan deployment
RAF pilot keeps troops supplied in Afghanistan

Defence in the Media: 31 August 2012

Summary
There is continued coverage of the Paralympics and especially of the involvement of individuals with a Service background. | The Times reports that an interpreter has been forced to leave his job with British forces in Afghanistan and seek asylum in Britain following death threats from Afghan police. | Various media cover the incidents that resulted in the deaths of five Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. | In the Daily Mail, Britain's former ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, says that wounded soldiers taking part in the Paralympics have been betrayed by a failure to find a solution in Afghanistan. | The Daily Express reports that war veterans have reacted with anger after thieves stole the entire memorabilia of one of Britain's oldest Royal British Legion branches in Manchester. | The Daily Mail reports on the Red Arrows performing at the Bournemouth Air Festival in Dorset in front of a memorial to their colleague Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging who died in a crash at last year's event.

Image of the Day: 31 August 2012

The Commander of Joint Forces Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, visited HMS Bulwark in Portland Harbour yesterday. During his visit, he met members of the ship's company who are providing maritime force elements to support Dorset Police's security plan at the Paralympics sailing venue. Pictured, Air Chief Marshal Peach steps over the brow to meet Bulwark's Commanding Officer Captain Alex Burton RN. Click here to read more. [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Joel Rouse, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 31 August 2012

Today, Friday 31 August
Private Derek Derenalagi competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games F57 discus event.
HMS Middleton and HMS Pembroke homecomings.

Tomorrow, Saturday 1 September
152 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps freedom parade, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Jubilee Medal parade, Tidworth.

Monday 3 September
Inquest in Sunderland into the death of Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 21 December 2009 (until 7 September).
Advances in Assistive Medical Technologies Global Business Summit, Lancaster House, London.
TV programme of interest: Series 2 of 'Our War', BBC3, 2100hrs. 'The Lost Platoon' - how a Welsh Guards platoon fell into a deadly ambush just yards from their patrol base (Episode 3 of 3).

Tuesday 4 September
Corunna Company, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, returning to Warminster from Afghanistan.

Defence News: 30 August 2012

Serving soldiers in GB Paralympics team
UK forces back animal welfare drive in Lashkar Gah
Decorated and dedicated supply specialists ready for Afghanistan
Military torchbearers carry the Paralympic Flame

Defence in the Media: 30 August 2012

Summary
There is widespread coverage of the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games and the significant contribution of several former members of the Armed Forces involved in the ceremony including Royal Marine Joe Townsend who lost both his legs in Afghanistan and rode a zip-wire into the stadium carrying the Paralympic Flame. | In the Guardian, Arthur Williams, a former Royal Marine and Paralympic cyclist, describes the journey he and his fellow Service personnel have been on to get to the Paralympics. | There is also coverage of the Paralympic Torch Relay which involved several ex-servicemen, including Captain Harry Parker, who was nominated by Prince Harry. | The Daily Telegraph reports that five Australian servicemen have been killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistan. | The Wall Street Journal Europe reports that Afghanistan is now the forgotten war, with little attention from the American public and a refusal by President Obama to talk about the war during the run-up to the presidential election. | The Daily Telegraph reports that the widow of a Royal Navy diver has been sentenced to nine months in prison for fraudulently claiming more than £144,000 from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. | The Daily Mail reports that female soldiers are being issued with combat boots designed specifically for women in the latest kit development from the MOD. | The Sun carries a letter from a member of public thanking the Armed Forces for the tremendous job they have done in the past year.

Image of the Day: 30 August 2012

One of the winners of Team GB's first gold medals in the London 2012 Olympic Games came home to a big Moray welcome last Friday. Captain Heather Stanning, from 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, who won gold in the women's coxless pairs event with Helen Glover, was driven through the streets of Elgin in an open-top Army Land Rover from nearby 39 Engineer Regiment in Kinloss. Captain Stanning was brought up in the Moray town of Lossiemouth and attended nearby Gordonstoun School. [Picture: Peter Jolly]

Defence Diary: 30 August 2012

Today, Thursday 30 August
Lance Corporal Netra Rana, Charlie Walker and Sam Bowen competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball event.

Tomorrow, Friday 31 August
Private Derek Derenalagi competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games F57 discus event.
HMS Middleton homecoming.

Saturday 1 September
152 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps freedom parade, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Jubilee Medal parade, Tidworth.

Monday 3 September
Inquest in Sunderland into the death of Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 21 December 2009 (until 7 September).
Advances in Assistive Medical Technologies Global Business Summit, Lancaster House, London.
TV programme of interest: Series 2 of 'Our War', BBC3, 2100hrs. 'The Lost Platoon' - how a Welsh Guards platoon fell into a deadly ambush just yards from their patrol base (Episode 3 of 3).

Tuesday 4 September
Corunna Company, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, returning to Warminster from Afghanistan.

Defence News: 29 August 2012

Op DAAS seizes weapons from insurgent stronghold
Free travel for military personnel supporting Paralympic Games security
HMS Bulwark prepares for Paralympics security role
Afghanistan-bound reservist looks forward to first deployment
4 YORKS soldiers carry Paralympic Flame

Defence in the Media: 29 August 2012

Summary
Various papers report that shares in G4S have fallen after the group was unable to provide the required number of security personnel to cover the Olympic Games. | The Sun's front page features Private Derek Derenalagi who lost both legs in Afghanistan but is now due to compete in the discus event at the Paralympic Games. | In looking for an answer to the shortage of runways in the South East, the Independent suggests that the MOD should sell off RAF Northolt and handle some Heathrow traffic. | The Daily Mail reports that Armed Forces personnel are showing their support for Prince Harry by posing naked for a Facebook page. | The Evening Standard reports that Prince Harry has been unveiled as the patron of an expedition of wounded servicemen to the South Pole. | The Daily Telegraph reports that two sisters have thanked the Duke of Cambridge for saving their lives after they were swept out to sea while on holiday in Wales.