Soldiers to parade in Watford receive hostile welcome in Luton (From Watford Observer)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WO to 80360, or email us
Soldiers to parade in Watford receive hostile welcome in Luton
2:07pm Tuesday 10th March 2009 in
Soldiers set to parade through Watford have received a hostile reception during a homecoming march in Luton today.
An extreme Islamic group waved posters reading “Anglian soldiers go to hell” as more than 200 members of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, marched through the Bedfordshire town.
Police officers had to intervene as people who had turned out to welcome the troops home, confronted members of the group.
The troop, who are known as The Poachers and recruit from across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, will be in Watford town centre tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Freedom of the Borough march, organised by Watford Borough Council.
The event marks their return from a six-month tour in Iraq.
The troop will set off from Lower High Street at 12.30pm, and will be inspected by Councillor Jan Brown, chairman of the council, outside St Mary's Church.
Comments(22)
Roy Stockdill
says...
2:21pm Tue 10 Mar 09
These people are too ignorant and backward to understand that soldiers have no say in what they do and where they serve and fight. They have to follow orders from the government and their commanders.
If anti-war protesters want to make a point, then they should be holding their protest in Downing Street and not against ordinary serving soldiers who have no freedom of choice.
I hope Watford's Muslim community behave with a little more common sense and dignity.
hogweed
says...
2:25pm Tue 10 Mar 09
enlightened one
says...
2:28pm Tue 10 Mar 09
wd40
says...
2:29pm Tue 10 Mar 09
See you there proudly waving with your Flag!
I hope, looking at the pictures on the BBC this wont turn out to be a race issue like so many other stories turn into.
Paradise Watford
says...
3:06pm Tue 10 Mar 09
Roy, you may be right but thats a mighty big assumption you made and saddly there are just as many non muslims who have aimed their opposition at the war at the troops and not as is quite rightly pointed out the government.
I wonder if this country was invaded if the donughts that spoilt the parade today would turn down the offer of being defended by the armed forces. Probably not the hypocrytical idiots
SouwfLondonHornet
says...
4:59pm Tue 10 Mar 09
I bet most of the boos were from the muslim community in Luton.
If they don't like what we do in this country, there's the door and go back to Pakistan!
SouwfLondonHornet
says...
5:09pm Tue 10 Mar 09
Surprise Surprise....they are all muslim!
jesus loves you
says...
5:18pm Tue 10 Mar 09
SouwfLondonHornet wrote:That’s a bit close to the mark, just because they come from Pakistan doesn’t mean they don’t like this country. People have the fundamental right to show this form of protest if they wish to. I bet you find that most of the people booing are 2nd or 3rd generation immigrates and the UK is the only home they have – so do we deport them if they were born in Luton? No we shouldn’t.
They have a job to do, it may not be what we agree with, but they deserve our support!
I bet most of the boos were from the muslim community in Luton.
If they don't like what we do in this country, there's the door and go back to Pakistan!
I don’t agree with the protest but also we shouldn’t start deporting people just because they boo at something.
Oh yeah – not all Muslims come from Pakistan.
SouwfLondonHornet
says...
5:26pm Tue 10 Mar 09
jesus loves you wrote:Good point.....then they should go back to the part of the world they originally came from....not just pakistan....
SouwfLondonHornet wrote: They have a job to do, it may not be what we agree with, but they deserve our support! I bet most of the boos were from the muslim community in Luton. If they don't like what we do in this country, there's the door and go back to Pakistan!That’s a bit close to the mark, just because they come from Pakistan doesn’t mean they don’t like this country. People have the fundamental right to show this form of protest if they wish to. I bet you find that most of the people booing are 2nd or 3rd generation immigrates and the UK is the only home they have – so do we deport them if they were born in Luton? No we shouldn’t. I don’t agree with the protest but also we shouldn’t start deporting people just because they boo at something. Oh yeah – not all Muslims come from Pakistan.
I chose that county due to the ethnic diveristy of Luton
wildy
says...
6:20pm Tue 10 Mar 09
Roy Stockdill
says...
6:25pm Tue 10 Mar 09
SouwfLondonHornet wrote:Quite so!
Just seen the video on BBC News Website... Surprise Surprise....they are all muslim!
RSIAW
says...
4:44am Wed 11 Mar 09
I will keep my eye out for any Meriden Old Boys lol..
Babsie
says...
6:25am Wed 11 Mar 09
Paradise Watford
says...
8:06am Wed 11 Mar 09
equetta
says...
9:05am Wed 11 Mar 09
alexray
says...
9:35am Wed 11 Mar 09
Because of the boys (and nowadays girls) in the thin red line!
God Bless them, and glad they are home safe and sound!
kryten234
says...
2:10pm Wed 11 Mar 09
SouwfLondonHornet
says...
9:44am Thu 12 Mar 09
Now this really frightens me!
kryten234
says...
10:17am Thu 12 Mar 09
alexray
says...
2:15pm Thu 12 Mar 09
kryten234 wrote:Kryten,
I think these people are making it perfectly clear where their loyalties lay, and it's not to our Queen and country. I can't believe blatant treason will go completly unpunished while if you get cought doing 40 in a 30 the law will f**k you.
I dont know that the treason laws in this country have been used in times of general peace, altho I'm fairly positive they were used during the world wars to help remove spies ect. However I'm sure if these scumbags were arrested with Treason some busybody lawyer would argue that it was in breach of their Human rights and that government would let them off with a massive compensation package. God Bless the Liberal Movement!
However you and other people are totally correct, if these people are so angered by the actions of our government, and hate the way we live our lives so much, why are they still here? I'm sure there are other contires in this world where they could live their hate filled little lives, and live the exact life style they want! They have feet, if you dont like it, lump it, or bvgger off!!
Paradise Watford
says...
12:08pm Fri 13 Mar 09
As someone else noted, they should go to Westminster and make their feelings known there. I'm sure that we all realise that there are many British people who don't agree with the war either, are they guilty of treason too or is that just reserved for those of foreign decent?
But I do agree with the sentiment that if they are not born in this country and do not like the way it is governed or some of its policies they can always go back to their native country. No one is forcing them to stay are they?
More News stories
- Charity book sale in Rickmansworth
- Centenarian talks to students at school in Northwood
- Get involved in your community
- Views sought on whether to cap Watford taxi numbers
- Aldenham Country Park takeover complete
- Watford restaurant and cafe hygiene scores revealed
- Police control centre hit by attempted metal theft
- Acoustic event brings music and crafts to Abbots Langley
- Tools stolen in series of thefts from vans
- Hard disk containing data on children stolen from council offices
Soldiers from B Company, the 2nd Royal Anglian, on operations north of al-Basrah, Iraq, on Thursday July 3, 2008.
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
jesus loves you says...
2:21pm Tue 10 Mar 09
I hope the people of Watford show better manners that the people of Luton.