General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the British General Staff, and Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, Chief of the Australian Army, issued the joint Order of the Day yesterday, Sunday 1 June 2008, in which they reflected on the historical tradition of the two Armies working together and what has been achieved in Iraq.
The Order of the Day follows in full:
"In May 2005 Australia committed the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) to Coalition operations in southern Iraq under the United Kingdom's command in Multi-National Division (South East) (MND(SE)). This commitment included the Australian Army Training Team - Iraq and embedded Australian Staff within HQ MND(SE) continuing a history of joint operations first established in the Sudan in 1885.
"In May 2006 the AMTG transitioned to Overwatch Battle Group (West) and commenced Operational Overwatch of Iraqi Security Forces with MND(SE) force elements.
"Together our two Armies, ably supported by our Iraqi colleagues, have served Australia, the United Kingdom, the Multi-National Coalition, and the people of Iraq with distinction. We can be justly very proud of what we have mutually achieved in southern Iraq, often in very challenging circumstances, which has culminated in the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi Security Forces' ability to accept and exercise responsibility for the security of southern Iraq.
"Much has been achieved in the last three years. The people of southern Iraq are able to go about their business with relative safety, and a new democratic nation is slowly rising from the ashes of the past. This new nation is about to embark on a journey with the admirable and achievable aim of establishing a society which enjoys all those benefits which we in Australia and the United Kingdom strongly support. The achievement of such a society in the future will be due in no small part to the efforts of both armies.
"The last three years has seen much achieved in the continued development of the relationship between our two Armies. As we have done on so many occasions in the past our forces have quickly and effectively melded to work toward a common goal based upon a shared heritage, service ethos and sense of purpose.
"Take pride in what you have helped to achieve."