Defence News

Defence News: 31 October 2012

HMS Dauntless returns from maiden deployment
Final group of 3 YORKS soldiers returns from Afghanistan
Two soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles killed in Afghanistan
Edinburgh-based soldiers return from Afghanistan
Zimbabwean brothers serve with RAF in Afghanistan

Defence in the Media: 31 October 2012

Summary
Various newspapers report that Corporals David O'Connor and Channing Day who were killed in Afghanistan were yesterday repatriated at RAF Brize Norton. | Various papers report that hundreds of family members lined the quayside in Portsmouth yesterday to welcome home the crew of HMS Dauntless on her return from her maiden deployment. | The Wall Street Journal reports that Afghanistan's election commission has set the country's next presidential election for 5 April 2014, kicking off a race that will choose President Hamid Karzai's successor and unfold as international forces leave the country. | The Sun reports that former First Sea Lord Lord West of Spithead has warned that Britain is in danger of sleepwalking into another Falklands War. | Various papers report that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has helped launch the London Poppy Appeal aboard a Royal Navy rigid inflatable boat on the River Thames. | The Times reports that former soldier William Knight, who is accused of conning the public out of £330,000 in a charity scam, has denied the charges in court. | The same newspaper reports that Israel is ready to initiate military action if Hezbollah militants try to move chemical weapons or long-range ballistic missiles from Syria into Lebanon.

Two soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles killed in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce that two soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles were killed in Afghanistan yesterday, Tuesday 30 October 2012. Click here to read more.

Image of the Day: 31 October 2012

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless returned home to Portsmouth yesterday from her maiden deployment circumnavigating the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was met by hundreds of family members and friends pleased to see their loved ones after seven months away at sea. Click here to read more. [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Nicola Wilson, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 31 October 2012

Today, Wednesday 31 October
19 Light Brigade final military parade and flag-lowering ceremony, Northern Ireland.
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal (until 11 November).
Royal British Legion photographic exhibition featuring images from former RAF Sergeant Alison Baskerville, Oxo Gallery, South Bank, London (until 11 November).
King's College London book launch: 30 years of reporting Afghanistan's wars.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Leadership', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 0000hrs, 1000hrs and 1400hrs. Repeat. Next on the agenda for the hopefuls is one of the most difficult physical and mental tests of the entire officer training process.

Tomorrow, Thursday 1 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment medal parade, Bulford.
London Poppy Day Appeal.
Royal United Services Institute Chief of the Air Staff's Air Power Conference 2012 (and 2 November).
Royal United Services Institute Members' Lecture: Challenges Facing Israel and the West.

Friday 2 November
3rd Battalion The Rifles homecoming service, Edinburgh.
22 (Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery, 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery, homecoming, Larkhill.
22 Field Hospital medal parade, Aldershot.

Saturday 3 November
3rd Battalion The Rifles homecoming and freedom parade, Edinburgh.
Lower Block 'LB04' of one of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers moves to Rosyth (until 8 November).

Sunday 4 November
Vimy Company, The London Regiment, homecoming parade, Guildhall, London.

Monday 5 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade, Ipswich.
Air Combat Power Visit, RAF Waddington (and 6 November).
International Institute for Strategic Studies Discussion Meeting - India and Afghanistan: Past and Future.
Royal United Services Institute/UK Project on Nuclear Issues Members' Event: Three Perspectives on Determining National Nuclear Posture, MOD Main Building, London.

Tuesday 6 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade, Romford.
19 Light Brigade Drawdown Symposium, HQ Land Warfare Centre, Warminster.
Armed Forces Covenant Conference, MOD Main Building, London.
Essex Armed Forces Community Covenant signing.
Chief of the Defence Staff speaking at 'The Changing Character of War' annual lecture, University of Oxford.
TV programme of interest: 'Highland Emergency', Channel 5, 1900hrs and 1930hrs - features Search and Rescue teams from HMS Gannet and RAF Lossiemouth.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Marinisation', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 2100hrs. The remaining cadets venture out into the Fleet for the first time, and finally get to test whether they are truly up to life at sea.

Wednesday 7 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade, Diss.
12 Mechanized Brigade Op HERRICK Mission Exploitation Symposium, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (and 8 November).
Colchester Military Wives Choir performing at Portcullis House, London.
International Institute for Strategic Studies event: German Defence and Security Policy.
Chatham House event - The US Election Outcome: Implications for US Policy.
Point And Shoot: The Making Of Our War: Talk, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Marinisation', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 0000hrs, 1000hrs and 1400hrs. Repeat. The remaining cadets venture out into the Fleet for the first time, and finally get to test whether they are truly up to life at sea.

Defence News: 30 October 2012

RAF reservists' bravery and sacrifices remembered
Longest-serving female sailor retires from Royal Navy
Navy's first female flier to 3,000 hours

Defence in the Media: 30 October 2012

Summary
Various papers cover the Defence Secretary's visit to HM Naval Base Clyde on Monday, with the main focus on coalition tensions over the announcement of more money being committed to Successor. | Various media report that the bodies of Corporal David O'Connor, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, and Corporal Channing Day, from 3 Medical Regiment, killed on duty in Afghanistan, will be repatriated today. | Various media report that a former seaman in the Royal Navy is to travel more than 300 miles (483km) in his wheelchair from Devon to London to raise £50,000 for a children's charity. | The Times reports that two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of a number of anti-tank mines from a train in Warrington. | The Daily Mirror has published an extensive feature on the Pride of Britain Awards which were filmed in London last night and will be broadcast tonight at 2000hrs on ITV1. Corporal Carl Taylor won an award for Outstanding Bravery for saving the lives of three children during a fire fight in Afghanistan. | The Telegraph has published a comment piece by Joan Bakewell stating that humanists, the second largest belief group in the Army after Christians, should be represented at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. | The Daily Mail reports that the longest-serving woman in the history of the Royal Navy has retired from active service following a 34-year career. | The Sun reports that a soldier dropped from the Olympics shooting team is facing dismissal, demotion and possible jail after admitting illegally possessing thousands of rounds of ammunition at his home. | The Daily Star reports that members of 3rd Battalion The Rifles were welcomed home in heartwarming scenes at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, after finishing a gruelling tour in Afghanistan. | Various papers report that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday accused Defence Secretary Philip Hammond of 'jumping the gun' on Trident. | The Times reports that there was good news for BAE Systems yesterday as the MOD announced a further £315m worth of work. | The Guardian reports that a feature-length documentary 'The Invisible War' exposes the shocking level of sexual abuse against women in the US military. The film raises similar concerns in the UK forces and the piece quotes Labour MP Madeleine Moon who believes there may be as many as one attack every day against women in the UK's forces.

The death of Captain James Philippson
At the weekend the Mail on Sunday reported on the death of Captain James Philippson in Afghanistan in 2006.

Our thoughts remain with the family of Captain Philippson. There was a Service Inquiry into his death and that recognised and paid tribute to both the tenacity and courage of Major Bristow, something we would also like to highlight following the Mail on Sunday's coverage.

The Service Inquiry report is available here on the MOD website.

Image of the Day: 30 October 2012

Warrant Officer Class 1 Susan Morgan, the longest-serving female in the history of the Royal Navy, has officially retired from active service following a 34-year career. Click here to read more. [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Chris Mumby, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 30 October 2012

Today, Tuesday 30 October
Repatriation to RAF Brize Norton of Corporal David O'Connor, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, and Corporal Channing Day, from 3 Medical Regiment, who were both killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 24 October 2012.
19 Light Brigade memorial and thanksgiving service, Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland.
3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment homecoming, Warminster.
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal (until 11 November).
Royal British Legion photographic exhibition featuring images from former RAF Sergeant Alison Baskerville, Oxo Gallery, South Bank, London (until 11 November).
Royal Society of Medicine seminar - Health, conflict and armed unmanned aerial vehicles: The way forward or a step too far?
TV programme of interest: 'The Pride of Britain Awards 2012', ITV1, 2000hrs.
TV programme of interest: 'Highland Emergency', Channel 5, 1900hrs and 1930hrs - features Search and Rescue teams from HMS Gannet and RAF Lossiemouth.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Leadership', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 2100hrs. Next on the agenda for the hopefuls is one of the most difficult physical and mental tests of the entire officer training process.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 31 October
19 Light Brigade final military parade and flag-lowering ceremony, Northern Ireland.
King's College London book launch: 30 years of reporting Afghanistan's wars.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Leadership', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 0000hrs, 1000hrs and 1400hrs. Repeat. Next on the agenda for the hopefuls is one of the most difficult physical and mental tests of the entire officer training process.

Thursday 1 November
Army Day, Warminster.
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment medal parade, Bulford.
London Poppy Day Appeal.
Royal United Services Institute Chief of the Air Staff's Air Power Conference 2012 (and 2 November).
Royal United Services Institute Members' Lecture: Challenges Facing Israel and the West.

Friday 2 November
3rd Battalion The Rifles homecoming service, Edinburgh.
22 (Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery, 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery, homecoming, Larkhill.
22 Field Hospital medal parade, Aldershot.

Saturday 3 November
3rd Battalion The Rifles homecoming and freedom parade, Edinburgh.
Lower Block 'LB04' of one of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers moves to Rosyth (until 8 November).

Sunday 4 November
Vimy Company, The London Regiment, homecoming parade, Guildhall, London.

Monday 5 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade, Ipswich.
Air Combat Power Visit, RAF Waddington (and 6 November).

Tuesday 6 November
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment homecoming parade, Romford.
19 Light Brigade Drawdown Symposium, HQ Land Warfare Centre, Warminster.
Armed Forces Covenant Conference, MOD Main Building, London.
Essex Armed Forces Community Covenant signing.
Chief of the Defence Staff speaking at 'The Changing Character of War' annual lecture, University of Oxford.
TV programme of interest: 'Highland Emergency', Channel 5, 1900hrs and 1930hrs - features Search and Rescue teams from HMS Gannet and RAF Lossiemouth.
TV programme of interest: 'Officers and Gentlemen: Marinisation', Military History channel (Sky 531, Virgin 236), 2100hrs. The remaining cadets venture out into the Fleet for the first time, and finally get to test whether they are truly up to life at sea.

Wednesday 7 November
Point And Shoot: The Making Of Our War: Talk, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester.

Defence News: 29 October 2012

Defence Secretary announces further £350m for Successor submarines
Westminster Abbey service commemorates Battle of El Alamein
IN PICTURES: Hundreds of military chefs square up in battle of the dishes
Helicopter masterclass for airborne medics
Major Anglo-French Exercise Gets Underway in the Mediterranean
MOD Fuel Depot emergency exercise declared success 

Defence in the Media: 29 October 2012

Summary
On Saturday, Sky News broadcast a report from Defence Correspondent David Bowden on board HMS Bulwark covering the Anglo-French exercise Corsican Lion. | BBC News reported that Defence Correspondent Caroline Wyatt had visited 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group at Chicksands who have been awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace. | The Guardian reported that a suicide bomber attacked worshippers outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan on Friday killing 40 people and injuring many more. | The Daily Mail reported that Thomas, the kissing horse who has served with the Army for 20 years, is finally retiring. | The Daily Mail reported that a quantity of 'anti-tank mines' have been stolen from a goods train. The story says the mines need extra components to make them operational and that the theft is understood to have been carried out by opportunists unaware of the nature of the cargo on board. | The Independent on Sunday published an article by Patrick Cockburn into the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the US government. | The Sunday Times' Jack Fairweather reported from Sangin and claimed that the Taliban are terrifying local officials with a campaign of taunts as western troops prepare to withdraw. | The Mail on Sunday reported that former soldier, Major Jonny Bristow, is planning to sue the Army as he claims he was wrongly blamed for the death of Captain James Philippson in 2006. | The Sunday Times reported that the chairman of BAE Systems Dick Olver has said he won't stand down as a result of the failed merger with EADS. | The Sun on Sunday's opinion editorial from Labour MP Dan Jarvis argued that morale in the Armed Forces is at rock bottom. | Various papers cover the Westminster Abbey service to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein. | The Independent on Sunday reported that from next January British troops take over the leadership of NATO's Response Force, a quick-strike unit of soldiers from 15 countries. | The Sunday Mirror reported that the Prime Minister has given a 'half-hearted' apology to a soldier made redundant just 72 hours before he qualified for an immediate pension. David Cameron wrote to Sergeant Lee Nolan to apologise for the 'administrative oversight' that led to him being incorrectly selected for redundancy. | The Times has published an interview with the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan who has written a book about her experiences with the MOD during her son's inquest. Margaret Evison lost her son, Mark, in 2009 and has now written a book 'Death of a Soldier'. | Various papers report that demonstrations have been held in cities across the UK supporting the Royal Marines accused of the murder of an Afghan in 2011. | The Daily Mirror reports that Corporal Carl, who was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing three boys from a fire fight in 2011, will be acknowledged at the Pride of Britain awards for Outstanding Bravery. | The Daily Star carries speculation that Corporal David O'Connor Royal Marines and Corporal Channing Day killed last week in Afghanistan may have been targeted in a revenge attack after apparently shooting an off duty Afghan policeman as he washed in a stream. | The Telegraph runs a comment piece by Boris Johnson about the importance of saving newspapers for the investigative work they carry out. He makes mention of the undercover operation to expose former military chiefs who claimed they could influence MOD procurement. | The Financial Times calls on the leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond to make clear his position on the EU, NATO and Trident. | The Daily Express reports that a campaign has begun to establish the role of a Veterans' Champion in town halls across the UK. Former solder, Neil Blower is behind the idea which is gaining momentum with Lord Ashcroft, the new Veterans' Tsar reported to be giving 'careful consideration' to the plan. | Various papers cover today's announcement by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond for a further £350m for Successor submarines.

'Friendly fire' theory dismissed in British casualties
There has been continued reporting over the weekend of the deaths of Corporal David O'Connor of 40 Commando Royal Marines and Corporal Channing Day from 3 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps. In some cases, reports have included speculation about the incident in which they were killed.

While the investigation is ongoing, a Joint Incident Assessment Team, comprising specialists from ISAF along with representatives from the Government of Afghanistan, have conducted an initial review and have concluded that this was not a 'blue-on-blue' or 'friendly fire' incident, and that the deaths of Corporals O'Connor and Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel.

Analysis of the events surrounding this complex incident continues and is likely to take some time while forensic and other tests are carried out.