1.       From The Colonel of the Regiment

Tuesday 31st July 2007 marks the official end of the British Army's operations In Northern Ireland.  For most Fusiliers past and many Fusiliers present it has dominated our Service lives.  As a Regiment we served on 37 tours of duty between the three battalions and lost 29 killed.  This included family members of 2RRF killed in the terrible coach bombing of 1974 in England.  The numbers wounded both physically and mentally are not recorded. For many these incidents quickly faded from memory while for others it remains a scar for life. Most of you will have been close to it, witnessed some of the terrible events or experienced the loss or suffering of a comrade. And now it is done and we close another chapter of Regimental history.

The hackle was always highly regarded and respected in the Province for both professionalism and compassion.  Fusiliers set an example of conduct and behaviour which showed there was another way to live other than through terror, fear and intimidation. We also saw acts of great courage and forbearance on both sides of the divide and made good friends in adversity.  Forgiveness is a personal choice based on your experience and creed but now is a time to look forward and take credit for a job well done in a 38 year campaign.  The people of Northern Ireland now enjoy a better life and have much to look forward to.

Let us take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for this cause and give thanks in whichever way we feel is appropriate:

A poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifices made by members of the Regiment is illustrated by a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire where each member of the Regiment who lost his life in Ulster or was killed by IRA terrorists on the mainland is remembered by having a tree planted in his name. Beside each of our Regimental trees in the Ulster Grove is a metal stake with a red disc on it showing the Regimental Crest, the soldier's name, details and a personal tribute chosen by his widow or family. Only the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers has ensured that every one of its soldiers has his own permanent memorial disc. As a consequence it is easy to identify our Fusiliers if you visit the Arboretum. The Colonel of the Regiment and Regimental Secretary visited on Sunday 2 December. It is very moving and most worthwhile. You can also see the five trees planted to homour those who have died while serving with our four antecedent regiments and the RRF tree planted by Brig Roy Wilde in 2002.

2.  COLONEL-IN-CHIEF VISITS FUSILIERS IN CYPRUS

 His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent visited 2RRF in Cyprus on 7^th and 8^th June. It was 20 years back in 1987 that he last visited Fusiliers on the Island when both 1 and 3RRFs served their together. 

Met at the Airport by the Commander British Forces Air Vice Marshal R H Lacey and the Commanding Officer, he was flown in a helicopter around the Dhekelia Sovereign Base to see the many changes. He was entertained in the Sergeants Mess on Thursday night for drinks and again on Friday for lunch, and dined with his Officers on the Thursday night. 

The highlight of the visit was the briefings and informal chats he had with Fusiliers at the various stands where they told him about their extraordinary exploits in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last year. He met some wives and Garrison Welfare Staff before awarding Long Service and Good Conduct Medals and Regimental Certificates, which he had personally signed, for several members of the Battalion who had earned special merit. It was particularly pleasing for him to be able to meet those who had been injured on operations and to see them making such excellent recoveries. 

Accompanied throughout by the Regimental Secretary it was no surprise that on the flight back to Heathrow the Colonel-in-Chief declared how much he had appreciated the visit and that this was an “exceptional battalion”.