Troops get set for Afghan role
Hundreds of soldiers based in Shropshire are set to pack up their kit bags and head off on a six-month tour of Afghanistan. Hundreds of soldiers based in Shropshire are set to pack up their kit bags and head off on a six-month tour of Afghanistan. But before they do, the soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment will celebrate St Patrick's Day with their families at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill. They will take part in a chariot race known as the Shamrock Stakes before a traditional service is held on the parade square. Fiona Freely, the wife of commanding officer Ed Freely, will present each of the officers with a sprig of shamrock to be worn in their headdress. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Hundreds of soldiers based in Shropshire are set to pack up their kit bags and head off on a six-month tour of Afghanistan.But before they do, the soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment will celebrate St Patrick's Day with their families at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill. They will take part in a chariot race known as the Shamrock Stakes before a traditional service is held on the parade square.
Fiona Freely, the wife of commanding officer Ed Freely, will present each of the officers with a sprig of shamrock to be worn in their headdress.
More than 500 soldiers and officers will take part in the service and parade.
The regiment is the last remaining Irish Infantry regiment of the line and is made up of soldiers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Within the battlegroup there are regular soldiers from the 1st Battalion, who are based at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, and reserves from the 2nd Battalion, who are based across Northern Ireland.
The battalions will travel to Helmand Province, where they will assist the Afghan government and the Afghan Army and police to establish security.
The soldiers will work to develop conditions and improve security to defeat the Taliban insurgency. The soldiers have spent the last six months preparing for the deployment, including two months training in Kenya in September and October last year.
The battlegroup will celebrate St Patrick's Day at their base in Tern Hill tomorrow. It will mark one of the last opportunities for the soldiers to spend time with their families before they deploy.
Mr Freely said: "St Patrick's Day is an important event in the regiment's calendar and it is traditional the men come together for a parade and church service on that day.
"This year's celebrations coincide with our deployment to Afghanistan and it is in the forefront of everyone's mind.
"This coincidence allows the men of both 1 and 2 Royal Irish to mark our feast day with our families and say farewell in style."
He added: "None of us underestimate the task ahead of us but we embrace the challenge."
