Royal Blue

Gurkha hero can live in Britain

Gurkha hero can live in Britain

A former Gurkha who won the Victoria Cross has been given the right to live in the UK.

Tul Bahadur Pun, 84, wanted to move from Nepal for medical reasons but had been told he was unable to demonstrate strong enough British ties.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has now said his case is "exceptional" and he will be granted a visa due to a "heroic record in the service of Britain".

Former Rifleman Mr Pun was awarded his medal for World War II action in Burma.

After the rest of his section, the 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles, had been killed, he carried out a solo attack on a machinegun post.

Actress Joanna Lumley backed Mr Pun's campaign to live in the UK because she said he risked his life to rescue her father.

Mr Pun's lawyers had lodged an appeal which was due to be heard in August.

His solicitor, Martin Howe, said the government did have the power to let him live in the country.

"There is a discretionary policy that is there and available to all Gurkha ex-servicemen who retired prior to 1997 and they are entitled to come to the UK and live here if they can show strong reasons and I think it's beyond doubt that this man has shown those," he said.

'Utmost loyalty'

Mr Pun has diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and asthma. His eyesight and hearing are poor.

He receives a British Army pension of £132 a month, which he must collect in person from the Gurkha army camp at Pokhara - a three-hour drive away from his home.

Mr Pun applied for indefinite leave to enter Britain but British officials in Nepal rejected the request.

However, Mr Byrne has said he and Home Secretary John Reid reviewed the case and decided to grant Mr Pun a settlement visa immediately.

"This decision was not taken lightly and reflects the extraordinary nature of this case, in particular Mr Pun's heroic record in service of Britain which saw him awarded the Victoria Cross," Mr Byrne said.

"It is entirely right that this record should not only be recognised but honoured.

"We have also taken into consideration his current medical condition."

More than 12,000 people signed a petition on the Downing Street website calling on the prime minister "to immediately and retrospectively give all Gurkha servicemen and their immediate families past and present British citizenship".

Government Response To Gulf Incident

Government demands immediate and safe return of 15 British Personnel seized by Iranian Navy

15 British naval personnel have been seized by Iranian naval vessels today, 23 March 2007.

The incident took place at approximately 1030 Iraqi time.

The British Personnel were engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters in support of UNSCR 1723 and the government of Iraq.

Operating from HMS Cornwall, the UK boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.

We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and on the instructions of the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office.

The British Government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment.

The MOD is currently in the process of informing the next-of-kin of the 15 personnel and would strongly urge the privacy of all families involved to be respected at what will be an extremely difficult time.

Any speculation about what might happen or the way our people may be treated could be genuinely dangerous, and the MOD urges media to refrain from such speculation whilst the Government conducts its urgent discussions with the Iranian authorities.

The MOD has activated a helpline for concerned families. The number is 08457 800 900

 

Speaking to the press today, Royal Navy Commodore Nick Lambert, Commander of the coalition forces operating in the North Arabian Gulf, said:

"My immediate concern obviously is for my people. I've got 15 sailors and marines who've been arrested by the Iranians and my immediate concern is that their safety and that their safe return to me is ensured. And I can assure all of the families who are listening out there that everything is being done at the highest levels of the UK government and indeed of the coalition structure that we are working under to ensure that safe return is possible.

"I'm speculating to a certain extent; we know our helicopter reported that they saw the boats being moved up the Shatt-al-Arab waterway towards an Iranian base up there and we know that there was no fighting, there was no engagement, no weapons or anything like that; it was entirely peaceful and we've been assured from the scant communications that we've had from the Iranians at a tactical level that the 15 people are safely in their hands.

"I know that my people behaved in an extremely professional way, I've been out with the boarding parties on many occasions myself. Everything I've seen from the report of the situation suggested that they reacted in impeccable fashion, totally professional, entirely in line with the rules of engagement and the direction that I have given them. And I have to say that I'm extremely impressed with what they have done, and I look forward to seeing them on their return to the vessel."

Things Happening Around Gereshk

Up To 69 Taliban Killed By Afghan Forces

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan forces launched what appeared to be their biggest independent operation ever against the Taliban, killing as many as 69 militants in fighting in the south that also left seven police dead, officials said Friday.

Elsewhere in southern Afghanistan, suspected Taliban militants ambushed a convoy of trucks heading to a NATO base, killing 13 Afghans, an official said.

The Afghan army and police carried out a joint operation in the Gereshk district of Helmand province Thursday morning, but NATO-led troops were not involved in the operations, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Defense Ministry spokesman.

Azimi on Friday said 49 Taliban bodies had been found in total, up from a death toll he gave on Thursday of 28. Azimi estimated the overall militant death toll at 69, saying the Taliban had buried 10 bodies and taken 10 bodies from the battlefield. Seven police were killed.

``They showed the capacity and capability of Afghanistan's National Army, without the help of foreign troops,'' Azimi said.

Lt. Col. Angela Billings, a spokeswoman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, confirmed that ISAF troops did not participate in the operation, which was part of a major push against a rising threat from the Taliban inspired insurgency in the country's south.

``There's more and more instances where we're stepping back further and further as we continue with the training of the army and police,'' said Billings.

About 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan forces are in and around Helmand province as part of Operation Achilles, launched earlier this month. Taliban militants and foreign fighters the last several months have streamed into Helmand province, the world's leading opium-producing region, according to U.S. and NATO officials.

Operation Achilles has seen heavy fighting between British forces stationed in Helmand province and Taliban militants, but neither NATO or Afghan officials have reported any large-scale casualties among Taliban fighters during the operation.

Violence in Afghanistan has spiked over the last year, with Taliban militants setting off a record number of roadside and suicide attacks. U.S. and NATO officials have said they expect violence to again increase this spring and summer.

In Uruzgan province, suspected Taliban militants ambushed a convoy of six trucks delivering goods to a NATO base in a remote and mountainous region, killing 12 private security guards and a driver, said Shafiq Khan, the chief of the private security company. Four of the trucks were destroyed, he said.

In eastern Nangarhar province, meanwhile, a suicide bomber targeted a U.S.-led coalition convoy on Friday, wounding a child collecting wood nearby, officials said. There were no coalition casualties, said Maj. William Mitchell, a coalition spokesman.

A truly tragic few days!

I have just read on the BBC news website that another soldier has been killed in Southern Afghanistan. If anything could make this more tragic it would be that this is the fourth brave soldier to have been killed since just last weekend. It is almost as if everything out there is escalating so close to everyone coming back home and I can really say that I have not been as worried as I am right now since this deployment began.

I cannot imagine what the families and friends of these brave soldiers are feeling right now or understand what they are going through - it is truly a tragedy, but I have been blown away by the care, courage and consideration of one family who have lost someone this week. Despite all that they are suffering through they have asked that the guys out in Afghan continue with their jobs and their mission with the utmost professionalism in memory of their son, and for all of their loved ones back home to let them know how much we love them and are truly proud of everything that they are doing. I have such admiration for this family's bravery, kindness and selflessness even at a time of such pain and words cannot describe how sorry I am for them. Their son was a true hero.

Marine Benjamin Reddy killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Marine Benjamin Reddy from K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, in Afghanistan on Tuesday 6 March 2007.

Marine Reddy, aged 22, was killed when his unit came under fire during a deliberate clearance operation in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province.

Marine Benjamin Reddy

Ben Reddy from Ascot, Berkshire, joined the Royal Marines on 18 April 2005. He deployed with K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in September 2006.

Marine Reddy lived for every single day as a Royal Marine. Not only was he entirely professionally adept, he always displayed the manner and characteristics expected of a Royal Marine – the Commando Spirit. It was obvious to all that Marine Reddy treasured his Commando Green Beret and all that it stands for. He lived up to its reputation.

Never one to shirk his duties, Marine Reddy was often the first to volunteer for any task despite discomfort or danger, displaying typical unselfishness and courage that earned him great respect from his colleagues and peers. He would always work himself hard, always wanting to pull his weight for the team.

His honesty and openness gained him many friends within his Troop and Company. His tenacity, determination and professionalism shone through even in the toughest and most testing of conditions on operations. He would get on with the job, always wanting to produce the best results that he could.

Marine Reddy's humour and sense of duty to his friends never faltered. He was happiest when standing shoulder to shoulder with his fellow marines and, with the rush of adrenaline that combat brings, those marines felt all the better for standing alongside him.

Marine Reddy's parents have issued the following statement:

"This is the saddest day in our lives. Our son Ben's death has left us feeling totally empty. He was and always will be our hero, not only as a son but as a brother to Jamie. We want to wish all the personnel serving in action abroad a safe return to their families."

His Company released the following:

"Ben's absence will be profoundly felt by all ranks within K Company. We have lost a vibrant, unique character with an irrepressible sense of loyalty to his comrades. But most of all we have lost a true friend."

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Holmes Royal Marines, added:

"Ben Reddy was a dedicated Royal Marine. He will be remembered as an honest and unselfish man who was conscientious in his approach to his duties and always worked hard for his friends and colleagues. He was always the first to offer assistance or to volunteer no matter what the associated danger.

"He was rightly very proud of his Green Beret, the outward mark of the Commando soldier. However, the real display of his Commando qualities were in his daily actions with K Company, and he had acquitted himself well fighting alongside his colleagues on numerous occasions. Courageous and proficient when in contact with the enemy, his fighting spirit was indomitable.

"Ben had close friends in the Company, and was amongst them when he fell. His loss will be greatly felt by his colleagues in K Company and across the whole Commando Unit, close as we are. We know he was particularly close to his family, whom he treasured and often spoke about, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and his friends at this difficult time."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"Marine Reddy's death is a tragic loss and my thoughts are with his family, colleagues and friends at what must be a most difficult time. It is clear that he was an excellent marine who served his company, service and country with pride. Marine Reddy made a vital contribution to the important NATO mission in Afghanistan; he will not be forgotten."

Please note that the family of Marine Reddy has requested privacy from the media as they come to terms with their loss.

VC awarded to Afghan Hero

Widow collects hero soldier's VC

The widow of a soldier who died saving seven comrades has collected the first posthumous Victoria Cross to be awarded since the Falklands war.

Corporal Bryan Budd, 29, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, was killed when he single-handedly stormed a Taleban position in Afghanistan in August.

Cpl Budd's widow, Lorena, 23, collected the honour from the Queen at a private ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

The Victoria Cross is the military's highest accolade.

Mrs Budd was joined by Cpl Budd's stepfather, Trevor Girdham, the paratrooper's sister Tracy and his brother Stephen.

She was also accompanied by Cpl Budd's comrades from the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.

Originally from Scunthorpe, Cpl Budd was the 20th UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001.

Mrs Budd, a clerk with the Royal Artillery, said: "The award of the Victoria Cross recognises his conspicuous gallantry, inspirational leadership and supreme valour.

"Tragically, acting in the highest traditions of the Parachute Regiment, he made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down his life.

"However, he did so doing the job he loved serving in the regiment that meant so much to him."

Cpl Budd had a daughter aged two and Mrs Budd gave birth to their second child a month after he was killed.

More On Marines Heroic Rescue Attempt

Marines cling to helicopters to rescue comrade

When the 200-strong team was forced to pull back from a battle with Taliban fighters at a fortress in southern Helmand Province on Monday, they realised that L/Cpl Matthew Ford was not with them.

Not knowing whether he had been killed or wounded, the unit launched an improvised rescue attempt in which four soldiers rode astride the fixed wings of two Apache helicopters, clinging to the sides of the aircraft, as they flew back over a river into a rain of fire.

When they landed near the walls of the Taliban fortress, known as Fort Jugroom, the team found that Cpl Ford had been killed and returned with his body.

"It's a testament to the men involved that they were prepared to mount a risky operation at very short notice, using a new and completely untried procedure, returning into the line of fire in order to rescue their comrade," said Col Rory Bruce, the spokesman for British forces in Helmand last night.

"I think that shows the level of camaraderie and bravery of those soldiers involved."

It is expected that some of them will be recommended for awards for bravery.

The assault was the latest in a new phase of British operations in Helmand, which has seen a shift from the tactics employed in the first months of the British deployment to southern Afghanistan last summer. While British forces still maintain a number of "platoon houses", fortified bases in towns in north Helmand, which were subjected to intense Taliban attacks last summer, another concept is being tried against the Taliban. The Marines call it "mogging'.

Small British units are now spending weeks at a time moving through the featureless deserts of Helmand. They are re-supplied from the air and seek to emulate many of the tactical advantages of mobility and surprise traditionally enjoyed by the insurgents.

By avoiding well-used tracks and roads they reduce the threat from roadside bombs and can appear out of the desert, strike a target and disappear again.

Monday's attack, near the town of Garmser, was an example of just such an intelligence-led raid.

British military commanders stress that the object was not to take and hold the fort, but to kill experienced and tactically astute Taliban commanders, who would be hard to replace, and to disrupt Taliban re-organisation during the winter months when it traditionally prepares for a spring offensive.

"Last summer's tactics were not all of our choice, but were the result of a number of political decisions which were taken by the Afghan government," said one senior British military source.

"Mogging is not about taking and holding ground, it is about having the battle at the time and place of our choosing and moving into the Taliban's sanctuary ground.

"It is not about the numbers of Taliban killed and you will find us generally reluctant to give numbers killed.

"Monday's operation succeeded in killing a number of middle-rank Taliban leaders. We lost one soldier, which is a source of regret. But the effect on the enemy is both real and psychological."

However, the strength and tenacity of the resistance on Monday by a force of Taliban fighters numbering only around 30 against 200 Royal Marines backed by artillery and aircraft gives clear warning that the Taliban are becoming an ever more formidable force numbering fighters who do not lack for courage or motivation. The months ahead are likely to see more hard fighting.

The Telegraph also included a Picture of the rescue attempt :

More troops may go to Afghanistan

More troops may go to Afghanistan

Tony Blair signalled yesterday that he was poised to send more British troops to Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban.

The Prime Minister refused to rule out reinforcing Nato forces in the hostile Helmand province with more British troops when he was challenged at his monthly press conference in Downing Street.

He said that the Taliban had to be defeated, and he would await requests from commanders on the ground, but that line has been used in the past as cover for a plan to send more British troops to the region. Commanders are expecting a sharp upsurge in violence after the winter snows make movement easier for the Taliban.

The Ministry of Defence yesterday named the latest British serviceman killed in Afghanistan as L/Cpl Mathew Ford of 45 Commando Royal Marines.

He died on Monday in a firefight as commandos stormed a Taliban fort to the south of Garmsir in southern Helmand. It was during the initial breach of a compound that L/Cpl Ford was shot and killed instantly, the MoD said.

Mr Blair will discuss the failure of Nato partners to offer more troops for Afghanistan with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visits London tomorrow. He discussed British troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and the need for reinforcements with Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, at the weekend. It raises the possibility that troops withdrawn from Iraq could allow more to be sent to Afghanistan.

Mr Blair will today face cross-party calls for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq. As many as 40 anti-war Labour MPs are expected to sign a Commons motion saying: "We are totally opposed to the 'new strategy' in Iraq announced by President Bush which threatens to turn the disaster of the occupation of Iraq into a catastrophe.

"We call on the British government to seize this moment to break from Bush and instead to begin the process of speedily disengaging from Iraq. Enough is enough - it's time to go."

New Military Academy

Academy sign of 'purple approach'

The creation of a central academy for military training is symbolic of a new way of working in the UK armed forces, a defence expert says.

Recruits from all three services - the Army, Navy and RAF - will be trained at the centre together, rather than separately as they are now.

John Chisholm, editor of Naval Power International, says the move is indicative of the increasing emphasis on "tri-service" operations in the battlefield.

The "purple" approach - so-called because it is the colour you get if you mix Army green with the light blue of the RAF and the dark blue of the Navy - involves members from all three forces working closely together.

"If you take a Royal Navy aircraft carrier then you may have on board Army, Navy and RAF aircrew operating three different types of aircraft," says Mr Chisholm.

"Within that context... it may be a good thing to bring people together at the beginning.

"That may be the advantage of [the academy]. They will get to know each other and will be able to operate better together and understand each other's problems."

Mr Chisholm says there are many examples of purple operations around the world today.

"The obvious place it happens is on any Navy task group," he says.

"Basra is a good example now. A lot of the helicopters in Basra are Navy helicopters - but they are shuttling around guys who are in the Army.

"In Afghanistan, the vehicles that are there are from the Royal Marines - they are now training Army people on these vehicles."

Presently, most of the armed forces training takes place at more than 20 different bases scattered across the UK - most of them addressing dealing with the needs of just one service.

Mr Chisholm believes many of these bases, including the main Navy training centre at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire, will decline in importance or be closed after the academy is built.

Rivalry

He anticipates that specialist training will remain, while "skills training" common to all forces - like helicopter maintenance or fire fighting - would be moved to the new training centre.

"What you would want at that sort of academy is what you can train Army, air force and Navy people in the same way.

"They are going to be operating side-by-side within naval task forces and will have to work together then," he says.

"There's a lot of rivalry between units. You can have detrimental rivalry and some of this will hopefully go if training takes place together at this level."

According to the Ministry of Defence website, other areas that could be covered by the new academy include intelligence, languages, communications and computing.

But Mr Chisholm says there is another major factor in the decision to create the academy - money.

"Like any other attempts at reform in the military, attempts to save money are at the bottom of it.

"I'm still a bit doubtful as to what it will achieve. If they put it all together you're going to lose identity in terms of the three services," he adds.

"What worries me about it is it's just going to be a desire to save money and the benefits are not going to be realised - but I would hope they are."

J Company Out And About

British Troops Fight Four Hour Battle With Taliban

More than 100 elite British troops today fought a furious four-hour battle at close quarters with the Taliban as they built checkpoints to keep the insurgents away from a local town.

A company of Royal Marines was ambushed at dawn in Helmand by rebels hiding in trenches and compounds just 40 metres away.

The force included marines from J Company of Plymouth-based 42 Commando and from Arbroath-based 45 Commando.

They were helped by Danish and Estonian troops and the Afghan National Army.

The fight began at 6.45am after the British force went to an area 5km from their base at Camp Price, near Gereshk, as part of Operation Bauxite, to install permanent vehicle checkpoints.

The security measures are being introduced at the request of locals to stop the Taliban coming into their town and also to keep the British base out of range of rebel mortars.

Up to 50 Taliban fighters attacked the multinational forces from irrigation ditches near the hamlet of Habibolah-Kalay.

During the ferocious battle, the Taliban leapt up in groups of four to open fire, so close the British could clearly see their trademark black turbans.

Major Ewen Murchison, the commander of J Company who led the battle, said: "That is one of the fiercest fights we've been in to date in terms of both the weight of fire that was coming our way and the proximity of the Taliban to my own troops.

"We went in at first light and the fire fight started at about 6.45am. We were under heavy small arms, RPG and mortar fire.

"There were 35 to 50 Taliban flying at us from numerous fire positions in and around the compounds and trenches employing their classic shoot and scoot tactics.

"During the course of the four hours I used the full range of military weapons available to me."

British troops responded to the Taliban ambush with small arms and machine guns, before resorting to mortars and artillery.

When this failed they deployed shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles at the enemy compounds and then called in air strikes by Apache helicopter gunships.

But the tenacious Taliban refused to surrender.

The battle climaxed with a raid by two Harrier GR7 jump jets, which dropped two 1,000lb bombs on the Taliban positions, finally ending resistance.

The noise from the laser-guided explosives shook the province and sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen 5km away at Camp Price.

No one from the multinational forces was injured in the battle. It is not known how many Taliban were killed.

Maj Murchison, who was brought up in Bearsden, near Glasgow, but now lives in Plymouth, said: "You go through the escalatory process of using your direct fire machine guns.

"If they're still not having the effect then you obviously escalate through the use of indirect fire weapons like mortars and artillery.

"And if they're still not having the effect you resort to the dropping of bombs.

"If they are well-dug in in trenches, quite often you need a 1,000-pounder to have the desired effect to neutralise the target.

"If I fire shots at them and they run away that means I've achieved my objective. If they continue to fight then I have to kill them."

As the Taliban finally fled, the British forces stormed the compounds where they found a bomb factory and weapons cache.

Maj Murchison continued: "I conducted an incursion into one of the compounds and found AK variant weapons, RPG launchers, grenades and rudimentary IED bomb making equipment, batteries, wires and explosives, so a pretty good find from my perspective."

The company commander said they had been asked to build more checkpoints by local community leaders who have seen how security improved in their area after similar measures were introduced around Gereshk in November.

He said: "We're doing it in conjunction with the locals who had a shura (council) and said to us if we could help them build some checkpoints in this area this would decrease the influx of Taliban into Gereshk town centre by about 80%. That was their figure that they gave me."

More checkpoints were built in January as the British continue their campaign to push the Taliban further away from that part of north-east Helmand.

More On This Story at http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1246866,00.html

British troops destroy Taliban camp

British troops destroy Taliban camp 

British troops have destroyed a Taliban training camp in Afghanistan, killing dozens of the enemy, in a victory the military said would help bring electricity to nearly two million people.

About 110 Royal Marines swept through northern Helmand targeting insurgent boltholes to pave the way for much-needed repairs on a hydroelectric dam in the north of the restless province.

Launched on New Year's Day, Operation Clay saw troops from Plymouth-based 42 Commando engaged in four days of ferocious firefights.

The raids resulted in the deaths of a senior Taliban commander and "tens" of his henchmen.

Amazingly, only one marine was injured during the deadly battles. He was shot through the hand.

Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, who is championing the scheme to fix the Kajaki Dam, has sent a personal message of thanks to Operation Clay's commanders.

Marauding Taliban fighters had been stalling repairs on faulty turbines at the dam, which is situated at the source of the Helmand River, but the work can now begin next month.

Once it is fixed, the facility, which was built in 1953, will bring electricity to 1.8 million people and treble the area of irrigated farmland in the fertile province.

Speaking from the British base at Lashkar Gah, military spokesman Major Oliver Lee said: "We needed to sort out the insurgency that there has been in the environs of Kajaki. And we very successfully did that over this past week or so with some very focused targeted military operations which included killing the key insurgency commander at that location.

"It involved running firefights for three of four days up against fairly coherent sustained attacks of small arms, rockets and indirect fire. It was a very meaningful fight, rest assured."