2 RIFLES dedicate Croydon march to fallen soldier
30 Oct 09
One hundred Riflemen of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) marched through Croydon to celebrate their recent return from Afghanistan, yesterday, Thursday 29 October 2009. Report by Leigh Morrison.
100 Riflemen from 2 RIFLES paraded through Croydon on their return from Afghanistan
[Picture: Stuart Turkington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
The parade, the first of many the Battalion is undertaking, paid particluar tribute to Rifleman Danny Simpson, 2 RIFLES, who came from Croydon.
Rifleman Simpson was one of 13 soldiers from 2 RIFLES who tragically lost their lives in Afghanistan during the tour. Another ten soldiers from the 2 RIFLES Battle Group, which includes supporting Arms and Services, were also tragically killed.
In addition 11 Riflemen of 2 RIFLES have suffered permanent serious injuries such as amputations and 51 have been less seriously wounded. Several of the soldiers who were injured turned up to join their comrades at the parade in Croydon yesterday.
2 RIFLES' Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, said:
"Rifleman Simpson was killed in action on 10 July in the Eastern part of Sangin, the town for which we were responsible.
"There's a poignancy that we're marching through Croydon as it was his home town and he was one of my exemplary London geezers. He made a big mark on the Battalion and was a lad who many people have got extremely fond memories of. He was a Rifleman to the very core."
The march paid tribute to Rifleman Danny Simpson, 2 RIFLES, who was killed in Afghanistan
[Picture: Stuart Turkington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
2 RIFLES deployed to Afghanistan in April 2009 on a six-month deployment wwhere they were engaged in frequent intense close quarter combat with the Taliban in Helmand Valley.
Speaking about the 2 RIFLES' deployment, Lt Col Thomson described the experience as the 'fight of our lives'. He continued:
"There was a web of tribal tapestries and a web of political tapestries in which we had to operate so it was utterly complicated and there was a real nuance to everything we did.
"Every decision had a consequence and some of those decisions had unintended consequences so we had to think through carefully. And of course it was very lethal and we paid a high price.
"The Battalion has held its head high, the baton has not been dropped and I'm indelibly proud of what our people have done."
"We left Sangin in October 09 a much better place than we found it in April 09. We built on the amazing achievements of our predecessors but we have continued to take that work forward.
"It's not glamourous, there's not a huge great manoevour involved, but we have done the essential small unglamourous steps to improve the lives of the people in Afghanistan and to edge forward the security for the people."
The Riflemen were met by the Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Margaret Mead JP
[Picture: Stuart Turkington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Read more of Lt Col Thomson's reflections of 2 RIFLES' deployment at Related News>>>
Captain James Heappey paid tribute to the families of those who didn't come home. He said:
"There have been some really difficult times and we've paid a really high price and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who haven't come home because that is always going to be our first thought.
"Croydon now has a special place in the heart of the Battlion, Rifleman Simpson was a local lad and it's just so great to be here on his patch and marching in his honour."
Thousands of people lined the streets of Croydon to welcome back the soldiers of the 2 RIFLES
[Picture: Stuart Turkington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
"Inevitably, when you come home from tour, morale is sky high. But there's always a thought for those who haven't come back.
"But then equally today, to see our injured coming out from hospital and seeing them for the first time, to see them smiling and back out and about is just a great feeling. It's such a treat to have them here."
Amongst the wounded soldiers joining their fellow Riflemen in the parade through Croydon was Lieutenant Alex Horsfal who lost a leg and badly injured his hand during an IED attack.
He said:
"In a nutshell, we were going out on patrol and initially I was with a section lined up against a little wall giving watch to another section who was dropping down into a waddy and a daisy chain of about four or five IEDs went off and I was hit.
"A whole heap of us suffered severe injuries and unfortunately one guy died.
After parading through Croydon, the Riflemen met invited guests and the Mayor before attending a reception in Fairfield Halls
[Picture: Stuart Turkington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
"Then on the CASEVAC, on the extraction, there were four guys carrying a stretcher and another four or five IEDs went off and unfortunately killed another four. That was it, it was the big moment of the tour."
This deployment was the first time 2 RIFLES have been to Afghanistan. Their last operational deployment was to Iraq in 2007.
Rifleman Stuart Elliott said:
"It was my first tour. It was tough, very tough. Things were quite quiet at the beginning but then things heated up quite fast.
"It's weird when you're out there, you don't realise that the rest of the world is still going on, it's like time stands still, you don't realise how much has changed until you come home."
Several London Territorial Army Riflemen from sister battalion, 7 RIFLES, who have also been serving with on Operation HERRICK 10 in Afghanistan this summer also joined the parade..
The Riflemen will take part in other parades around the UK and will be presented with their Operational Medals before they take a well deserved break.