Last Friday, I was delighted to be able to attend the homecoming parade for 1st Battalion The Rifles, based out of Beachley Barracks. 1 RIFLES had been deployed on Operation SHADER, the UK's commitment of support to counter Da’esh operations in Iraq, since August 2015. Leading the parade was Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Charlie Grist.
During their 18 month commitment, 1 RIFLES’ main role was to train the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army in infantry tactics, bomb disposal, field engineering and first aid. Over the year and a half in Iraq, the 1 RIFLES Battle Group trained thousands of local forces, who, bit by bit, recaptured ground, leading to the on-going assault on Mosul.
It was fantastic to be able to welcome them back from these important operations in the fight against Da’esh. On parade alongside 1 RIFLES were representatives of the regiment’s attachments, including the Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps and Medical Corps, alongside the reserve battalion, 6 RIFLES.
I was graciously allowed to accompany Lt General Ben Hodges on the dais for the battalion march past. General Hodges is the Commanding General of the United States Army Europe, and was the senior inspecting officer at the homecoming parade. On the same day that a new US President and Commander-in-Chief was sworn into office, it was a significant demonstration of the strength of the special relationship to have a senior representative from the United States Army inspect 1 RIFLES’ homecoming.
It also provided reassurance of our commitment to NATO and the defence budget. The UK will continue to lead in NATO, the G7 and the United Nations, and maintain strong and enduring relationships with the United States and our other friends and allies around the world. The bedrock of our defence rests on NATO, and the UK is committed to strengthening co-operation within NATO and collective defence across the alliance.
Our Armed Forces are admired and respected around the world, and rightly so. 1 RIFLES’ work in Iraq was part of a greater international effort in the fight against global terrorism, and I was honoured to be able to welcome them home, and wish them all the best for the future.