Excellent articles which really shows what the troops deployed to Afghanistan have to endure.

Well done HarryPalmer - keep them coming.

As for Irish serving in the British Forces - it's nothing new. In fact my own grandfather left Ireland to join the British Army to fight against the Germans in WW2 - just like many others from Ireland. :D

Originally Posted by Bugsy

That really is an interesting article. I particularly liked this little bit:

The British army's imperial experience of incorporating all creeds and denominations to defend the realm has given it a great understanding of diversity and a cheery acceptance of others. I have never faced any anti-Irish hostility, and I would suggest my soldiers haven't either.

I also never had any grief for being Irish. It was just for being from somewhere (anywhere) else, like Scousers, Geordies, Taffs or Jocks, or even Lahdannaz.

The British Army really is a true multi-culti society.

MsG

Never a truer word said Bugsy, if only society as a whole acted the same they'd be no problems in the world

On duty in Helmand Province, dreams of R&R are interrupted by a deadly blast

Fri, Aug 01, 2008

SOLDIER'S DIARY:An Irish soldier and his platoon are shaken by a loud blast and the call: "Contact! Mine!", writes Lt Paddy Bury

IN THE 50 degree-plus temperatures, rest and recuperation, or R&R, and the thoughts of a cooler home that go with it, can become an obsession for any British army Rangers with time on their hands in Afghanistan. For the officers it is less so, as the constant cycle of planning, orders and briefs keeps us busy. Nonetheless, in the days before my R&R is due, I find myself in countdown mode.
The night before we leave, it emerges our flight out has been postponed. The news is greeted with grins and jokes from those in the platoon who aren't due to go and silence from those who were. I tell them not to worry, we'll still get out.
The next morning I am sitting in the operations room monitoring the radio net. A royal marines armoured convoy has been ambushed in a valley a few kilometres from our base. As their armoured vehicles hurtle toward our location with bullets clanging off their armour and RPGs detonating all around them, we sit tensely, hoping they'll make it through. They do, and we are just starting to relax when I hear a loud bang outside.
"Contact! Mine! Wait out," comes over the net.
The lead vehicle, as it was crossing the Helmand river, has been blown up. The noise brings the Rangers out on to vantage points to helplessly watch the drama unfold. Four hundred metres away, a huge plume of black smoke and flame is leaping from the stricken vehicle. The ammunition inside is exploding, keeping the rescuers at bay.
Bravely, the fire is extinguished quickly and, miraculously, survivors are pulled from the wreckage - but a courageous marine, whose tour had been extended so he could carry out this final mission and who was in sight of safety, has died. It hits us all.
The injured are extracted by medical helicopter and the convoy makes its way into our base. Its crew, faces matted with dirt and sweat, are in a state of shock. It becomes apparent there will be another flight after all, to collect the fallen marine. We will also be extracted on it.
As we frantically pack our kit, an honour guard is formed up on the helicopter landing site. The chopper lands and in the swirling dust and debris, the honour guard stands to attention with heads bowed, lining the route on to the aircraft. We leave Sangin in solemn mood, watching the desert drop beneath the rear door of the helicopter and the Union Jack covering the body billowing in the breeze.
Arrival in Camp Bastion, or Camp Butlins as it is now known by the frontline troops, with a healthy disdain for those in the rear, brings many creature comforts.
A cooler climate, fresh vegetables and meat, internet and even ice cream await us. Things taste sweeter, crunchier and life is definitely calmer, safer. No sooner have we arrived than the commanding officer apologises for extracting us in such circumstances.
But once we are safe in our air-conditioned tents, thoughts turn back to Sangin. The Rangers, once so keen to get away, now say they want to return to the platoon, to their comrades. For myself, an almost paternal instinct for those I am responsible for preoccupies my thoughts.
Both officers and Rangers alike realise, now that they have left Sangin, just how much they were enjoying the soldiering, despite the danger and hardships. Moreover, they miss the camaraderie of the platoon. Each of us now somehow feels helpless should anything happen to 7 Platoon while we are at home.
To see family and friends in the middle of an operational tour has a special quality to it, made all the more sweet by the surrealism that in 14 days you will be back in a war zone.
Two weeks later and I'm back with the platoon in another compound in the Green Zone. This one is not like our last. Built of mud and thatch, it has been previously blasted by Hellfire missiles and heavy calibre cannons that have left their mark on the walls. I share my cardboard bed with a small snake, cockroaches, frogs, hornets and flies.
As we prepare to leave, Taliban radio intercepts indicate they are in position and "ready" . . .

Lt Paddy Bury from Wicklow remains on duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

© 2008 The Irish Times

Thanks H.P.
Compelling stuff.

Irishmen in British army uniforms
Fri, Aug 08, 2008


Madam, - Tom Cooper's statement (August 7th) that Lt Paddy Bury of the Royal Irish Rangers is not an "Irish soldier" again exposes the dysfunctional myopia of the so-called republican attitude.

It was classically exposed when the Irish rugby team played England in Croke Park last year, and a youth stood outside holding a placard saying "no foreign games" while wearing a Celtic soccer shirt. It is seen also in the denial of Ireland's imperial role in the "British" empire of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The British army is the army of our nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As such it contains Scottish, Welsh, English and, yes, Irish soldiers. The island of Ireland is divided between two friendly EU countries, democratically agreed by the Irish people living in both countries. It's time to move on. - Yours, etc,

SEAN O'BYRNE,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 14.

Madam, - Lt Paddy Bury serves in one of the main Irish regiments that make up the British army. He continues a long and proud history of Irishmen serving in the that army.

It is sad that Tom Cooper cannot see past his own revisionism on the subject. The Royal Irish Regiment is uniquely Irish in background and culture, as are the Irish Guards - in much the same way that Welsh and Scots regiments retain those unique characteristics that celebrate their differences while allowing them to be part of the greater family within the British army.

I do not see the British army as an occupying force, nor do I object to Irishmen serving in it. I am proud to have served in the Royal Engineers and I enjoy Lt Bury's articles.

Mr Cooper would do well to remember that less than 70 years ago Irishmen fought fascism to give him the right to an opinion and that certain elements on this island engaged in acts of terrorism to deny the majority the freedoms they wished to enjoy.

The well-attended Royal British Legion ceremonies at Islandbridge continue to do honour to all those Irish men and women who saw service in the colours. Our thoughts should be with the RIR and Irish Guards as they continue to aid the fight for democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Yours, etc,

DEREK REID,

Coolock,

Dublin 17.

© 2008 The Irish Times

Irish Times

Sensory overload as Taliban fighters attack from all sides
Fri, Aug 08, 2008

SOLDIER'S DIARY:British soldiers face rockets, grenades and rifle-fire in an Afghanistan ambush, writes Lieut Paddy Bury

Zip. Zip. Crack. Crack. Whoosh. Bang. Whoosh. Boom. Zip. ZipZipZip. Crack. CrackCrackCrack.

"Contact! Small arms and RPGs. Wait out!"

"Get down! Get down!"

Chaos reigns.

One Section hurl themselves into a watery ditch, as rocket propelled grenades explode only feet in front of them, showering them in dust.

Overhead, bullets tear into the trees, scattering splinters and foliage over them and landing just yards behind.

"Watch the flanks! Watch the flanks!" I yell to try to combat the suicide bomb threat.

Three Section, who had been escorting a quad motorbike laden with our supplies from the compound we had been staying in, are caught in the open.

"Move left! Move left!"

As a rocket-propelled grenade self-detonates mid-air sending shrapnel screaming around him, the quad driver decides it's time to abandon his juicy target and rushes for cover with his section who have positioned themselves between it and the enemy. Meanwhile, One Section have composed themselves and are now returning fire.

"There! 400 metres. Left edge of compound. Two by Taliban."

"Seen! Seen! Seen!" reply the rangers.

"Raaaapid fire!"

Bullets start winging toward the enemy. In the hail of copper that clatters around them the Taliban are momentarily suppressed. Two Section take advantage and break from their paltry protection behind a mound in an open field and dash for the cover of some ruins, closer to the enemy.

The Taliban fight back. Zip. Zipzipzipzip. Crack. Crackcrackcrack. Whoosh. Boom!

"There! Eleven o'clock. RPG man."

Tim, our US Marine Corps sniper, has already whipped his sniper rifle from his pack and, standing waist-deep in the soaking ditch, is searching for targets.

The Taliban are firing from different places, popping out in small groups, letting off accurate bursts and disappearing again. Just as a masked and robed fighter pops out with a primed RPG pointing our way, Tim catches him in his sights.

"Seen!"

The shot sends the fighter to the floor.

By now Two Section are suppressing as well. The Taliban cannot match our heavy weight of fire.

One Section withdraw in line with the rest of the platoon and we adopt an all-round defensive posture. The incoming stops.

"Watch and shoot! Watch and shoot! Watch the flanks!" goes the order to stop continuous firing and look for the enemy popping out of cover again.

I am dealing with sensory and information overload. Amid the noise and confusion of the contact, two radio channels buzz in my ear as rangers send information on the enemy and the operations room looks for a location of the enemy and details of any friendly casualties.

After that highly-charged pause, it emerges we have none.

The mortar controller is speaking to his barrels and laying them on to the target should we need them. Overhead, air support is coming on station.

Our interpreter tells us from an intercept that the Taliban have broken off the attack and taken a casualty. Then comes the news they are preparing to mortar us.

"Get into hard cover! Incoming!"

Things get tense. Amidst the ruins we sit and await a hail of shrapnel. Thankfully it never comes.

The Afghan National Army have rushed out of their base to our aid and are now in hot pursuit of the Taliban as they flee to their safe houses to drop off their weapons. As the lull lengthens I move a section back to the quad and get it away to safety.

The ops room wants us to search the firing points so I move forward with a section, covered by another. We move cautiously as the locals start to return to the fields.

"Boss, he's one," says an experienced ranger. "He's wearing the same dish-dash as the guys on the firing point."

I am staring into the face of an indignant looking 17-year-old. Is this our enemy?

We search him. Nothing. Smell his hands for cordite. No.

I'm not sure about him. Maybe I don't want to believe he could be enemy. I let him go, recording where he lives.

We trudge back to camp and, as the adrenalin wears off, realise how exhausted we are.

• Lieut Paddy Bury from Wicklow remains on duty in Helmand province, Afghanistan

© 2008 The Irish Times

Mon, Aug 11, 2008

Madam, - If Lt Paddy Bury, who is described as an Irish soldier despite the little matter of him being a member of a British army regiment stationed in Afghanistan, feels such a desire to be an Irish soldier, why then did he not join the Irish Army?

Lt Bury, who, it is stated, hails from Co Wicklow, choose to join a foreign army, thereby forgoing the right and honour of being called an Irish soldier.

It appears that the revisionists have succeeded in convincing The Irish Timesthan an Irishman in British army uniform is in fact entitled to refer to himself as an Irish soldier. It is the duty of all Irish citizens to uphold the separatist ethos upon which this State was built, and uphold the value and dignity of Irish citizenship and not allow it to be peddled around the globe by British soldiers masquerading as members of the Irish defence forces.

In this matter The Irish Timeshas a responsibility also.

- Yours, etc,

TONY CORRIGAN, Templeogue, Dublin

Madam, - It is unfortunate that questions of revisionism versus republicanism, however relevant in themselves, have been allowed to disguise the real issue raised by Lt Bury's articles.

Lt Bury's "diary" concerns the day-to-day life of Afghanistan's present Western occupiers, who, in the prevailing climate of neo-imperialism, are taking another crack at controlling a country that has defeated successive waves of conquerors over the centuries.

In the nature of things - Lt Bury is himself an occupier - his diary is uncritical of the present occupation. Its publication by The Irish Timesimplies approval of a Nato campaign that was undertaken without UN approval and hence in violation of international law.

- Yours, etc,

RAYMOND DEANE, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Madam, - Tom Cooper (August 7th) finds "offensive" a reference to Lt Paddy Bury as "an Irish soldier". In fact Lt Bury and his Rangers are part of the internationally recognised Irish military tradition, shared by the Irish brigades in the service of France, Spain and Austria, as well as the Fighting 69th of the US.

This is a proud title used, for example, by Michael MacDonagh in The Irish at the Front, Richard Doherty in Irish Generalsand General Godley in The Life of an Irish Soldier. This is one country, regardless of current political arrangements, and the Irish military tradition is the shared inheritance of all the people of this island, North and South, Catholic, Protestant, nationalist, unionist.

The Irish Catholic nationalist soldiers who answered their political leaders' call in the first World War, and have been honoured by President McAleese, as well as by the leaders of our political parties, including Sinn Féin, are now performing one more service by providing a bridge between the two politico-religious traditions, accepting the "common name of Irishman".

Lt Bury's diary is entertaining and informative, as well as being a reminder that he, like his forebears who fought against Nazi tyranny, is on our side against Islamo-fascism.

Mr Cooper seems to convey the idea that the only real Irish soldiers are those who have been attempting to undermine our democracy since the foundation of the State.

- Yours, etc,

PATRICK D. GOGGIN, (Capt, rtd) Glenageary Woods, Co Dublin.

© 2008 The Irish Times

Madam, - Your correspondents who witter on about Lt Paddy Bury's uniform are missing the main frame. The Irish Times has discovered perhaps one of the finest diarists in the long history of war zone journalism and for this, Madam, your readers are indebted. - Yours, etc

JONATHAN IRWIN,

Ballitore, Co Kildare.

To Lt Bury,

Sir, you are an inspiration to the guys at home, you are in every sense an Irish Soldier and like myself, very proud to say so. Safe tour, safe home and Faugh-A-Ballagh.

ps Harry Palmer, many thanks for posting this!!

Great posts, Harry. Stay safe, Sir!