Originally Posted by biffins-bridge

I understand that the plaques from Barney Warburtons memorial were removed when British Forces pulled out and are now with 33 at Wimbish. Does anyone know if the plinths are still there and were any alternative plaques left?

It was a very sad/shocking day when barney was killed and it was so close to the end of the tour. He was killed if I remember rightly on the Saturday morning when England were playing Wales in the 5 nations and we were supposed to be watching the match in the afternoon on a recently proffed telly. I often think about it and wonder whether the locals in Stari Vitez have maintained any memorial?

A few weeks ago myself and another former Sapper living out here met 4 lads who came over from Barneys' home town to pay their respects, we took them out to Barneys' Memorial Plinth and to show them the exact place he fell. The Corps coloured wall that marked the spot where Barney was killed has now been replaced a by a massive concrete wall going all around the fottbal stadium but we still managed to show his friends the place where he fell and they paid their respects with an ale drunk in toast at that place.

Remarkably, the plinth which now has only the French squaddies plaque, he died in 95 I believe, was still there on a square of ground that had been carefully avoided by the obvious heavy plant that have ripped the entire area up and a gravel surface has been laid everywhere, the square area around the plinth is now a foot or so higher than the surrounding ground.

The 4 lads, one of whom was a Very close friend of Barneys and now owns the Pub where he lived as a young boy, have promised to get a piece of Welsh slate made up with Barneys' details and they will either bring it out or send it out here to be put on the plinth.

We took them for a few drinks that night in the pub called the Avlija, where all of us involved in Mine Action several years ago would meet up each friday with the KDZ lads (Bosnian Police Bomb Disposal), many of whom worked with us with the various EOD/Mine Action companies, they still had the Minirano (Mined) reservation signs on the tables, my former interpreter also joined us so a good night was had with many memories shared; the only downside of their trip over here was when they watched the Bosnia U21 v Wales U21 match and could only watch in despair as their 12' x 5' Flag bearing the old Welsh colours and the name of the Pub, disappeared in the crowd nicked by a couple of teenage Bosnian supporters

Excellent news Al

I served with JR Sword in Cyprus and have a photo of his resting place any family or ex - 51 port get in touch

Originally Posted by BiddyHill

23673006 Spr JR Sword 51 Port Op Sqn RE 10th November 1959 aged 18 years
Wayne's Keep Military Cemetery Plot 26 Row A Grave 9

served with JR Sword

Original list edited to include the Sapper David Watson, killed on Thursday in Afghanistan.

:( was joe royles BCR during gulf 1, from speaking to the rest of the lads out there he was top bloke and sadly missed by all 1 sqn lads & 7 sqn.

Original list edited to include WO2 David Markland, killed on Monday in Afghanistan.

Original list edited to include Sapper Guy Mellors, killed on Monday in Afghanistan. His death brings the RE total in Afghanistan to 8 - the same number as were lost in the Balkans campaigns and only 1 short of the Falklands total. 12 members of the Corps have now lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Original list edited yet again, this time to include Foxy, killed in Afghanistan.

Today marks the 1st anniversary of the loss of 2 young sappers at Massereene Bks Antrim after another cowardly attack by PIRA scum ........ Sleep well brothers, see you in Valhalla ........ Thoughts go out to their friends & family. R.I.P.