Soldiers reveal war experiences (From Watford Observer)

Soldiers reveal war experiences

4:53pm Wednesday 28th January 2009

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Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment have visited Westminster to speak to Members of Parliament about their experiences.

The Battalion, which recruits from across Hertfordshire, returned from their second tour of Iraq in November and will march through the streets of Watford to mark their return home on March 11.

Hertfordshire MPs attended the presentation, hosted by the Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, General Sir John McColl, which aimed to raise awareness of the Regiment amongst MPs who represent constituencies in their recruiting area.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Browne, the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, nicknamed The Poachers, talked about the differences they found on the ground between their recent tour and their previous tour in 2006.

During three months of their first tour of duty in 2006, the Poacher Battlegroup fired more than 36,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as mortars, grenades and cannon shells. Two Poachers were killed by a roadside bomb, whilst others were wounded.

On their return in May 2008, however, The Poachers fired no ammunition in anger, while The Iraqi Army was in the lead. There had also been a change in the groundswell of Iraqi public opinion, and the British Army were supporting and providing advice, training and specialist capabilities.

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