Operation BANNER ends

[WE Branch Fanatic]

At midnight, 31 July 07, Operation Banner will cease.

See this announcement (http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/ArmedForcesToEndMilitaryOperationsInNorthernIreland.htm) from the MOD website.

I would like to pay tribute to those who served, and express my sympathy for the famillies and friends of the fallen, and to those who sacrificed their physical or mental wellbeing.

Yoy may be interested in this analysis (from an Army viewpoint) of Banner, both out of general interest and beacause there are lessons that are applicable to today's operations.

Analysis (http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/DA8CD95F-90D4-4720-8EC9-C850EDA5443C/0/op_banner_analysis_released.pdf)

Maritime and Aviation aspects are discussed in chapter six.

[GasFitter]

Agreed. Thoughts to everyone who's lost family and friends.


For the Armed Forces, does the end of Op BANNER mean the end of:

NI Pay?
Abated Food & Accommodation?
Travel Warrants?
Volunteer postings?
GSM(NI)?

Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing that NI has improved incredibly over the past 5 years in my opinion. Just interested.
GF

[Climebear]

GF
Yes
Yes
No (treated similar to Scottish Outer Isles)
Yes
Yes

[R 21]

Ah the Emerald Toilet

fond memories, but I never want to return !!!:\

[ZOFO]

Climebear

Just to correct about the allowances for NI, we have not lost the Northern Ireland Pay, the only allowance cut that has taken place is the loss of NICFA (Northern Ireland Compensatory Food Allowance), Northern Ireland pay still stands are we are still Restriced on where we can go and not go, Basically for those of you in the know we still have a lot of red on the Province map, and it is not likely to go for the foreseeable future.
Having spent over 50 percent of my 21 year career (still serving) in Ulster, I to am pleased in the way things have gone over here, but to quote a certain well known politician "They haven't gone away you know" we still still have some very nasty people out there.
I can only hope that the now sporadic incidents that happen over here but are not obviously aired on the National press are just kept to a small minority of "Die Hard" causes that will peter out in the long run. We all over here still await to see what will happen on the formal disbandonment of the Royal Irish Regiment.

I have spent alot of time in the Province and my final thoughts and prayers are with my friends, workmates and of course the families that have lost loved ones in this Operation

Safe Home

Zofo and family

[Climebear]

ZOFO
To be very pedantic NI Pay ceased in approx 1998 when it was replaced by Northern Ireland Resident Supplement (NIRS) not payable to those on rouelment tours.

;)

I agree, very fond memories of my time there.

The Royal Irish Regiment will not disband - only the Home Service btns. 1 RIRISH will continue the long tradition of fine Ulster Regiments in the British Army.

'Celer et Audux'

[MrBernoulli]

Gosh, and there was me thinking that the title of this thread meant that the RAF weren't going to buy anymore of those cheap and nasty stationery supplies. You know the stuff I mean - usually nick 'em from the adj's cabinet but the biro stops working after 5 minutes ........ :E

[Shack37]

Quote
"Ah the Emerald Toilet"

fond memories, but I never want to return !!!:\

Don't imagine you're likely to be invited:=

[Talking Radalt]

Bacon butties in the pouring rain on the HLS at Armagh..... :ok:
Happy days, somehow I just know I'll miss 'em...eventually.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

I have edited the above to mend the link.

To my mind it is significant that submarines and RN helicopters (not Junglies) have been mentioned. They are commited to today's counter terror operations.

The discussion regarding support helicopters makes interesting reading - parrticularly considering current operations and the debate over BLUH/FLynx and so on.

[eastern wiseguy]

As of midnight on July 31st the prohibited areas all vanish.Normality reigns....good lord I have even heard ASCOT callsigns!!


R21..it speaks highly of you too:hmm:

[The Burning Bush]

Did a couple of tours in the late 70's, never thought I'd live to see it resolved. Hang on a minute:uhoh:

[Green Flash]

As of midnight on July 31st the prohibited areas all vanish

'ang on! Does that means it becomes just another LFA, then? 500' around Bandit Country in your Tonka, anyone? :}(Yes, I know the SH cabs have been doing it, and (alot) lower, for years but you take my point?)

[eastern wiseguy]

Yep......bring 'em on. Mind you the last time one of 'em asked my mate to "calculate my minima"....yeah that'll happen!!:}:}

[bad livin']

Many a ferry boarded, and many a day on watch in various bodies of water across the way. Many a good time had.

[passpartout]

So what are the chances of using LFA 19 like the rest of the LFS?

[Dogwatch]

Had my first flight in a Puma at Ballykinler in 1977, had some great times out there.
Glad its at an end, although, as said above, there is still plenty of stuff happening that isnt reported.

[TheWizard]

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/07B526DB-99B3-43DE-B72A-C19CEC39CB05/0/banner01.jpg

Wow, that just caused a serious flashback!! I hope those signs are displayed in an appropriate museum or display somewhere as they represent a big chunk of military history for that part of the world and serve as a tribute to those that 'did their time' at the Mill.
Mixed memories, some good, some bad but glad it has reached a conclusion.:)

[EGAC]

Grateful thanks to those of all ranks and from all services for their duty and sacrifice here over such a long period. Words aren't enough but they're all that ordinary NI people like me have got.

Sadly I must agree 100% with ZOFO regarding his quote "they haven't gone away" and I must equally vehemently disagree with his description of anyone who says that as a "politician". Most of we law-abiding citizens, including the relatives of the twelve British subjects incinerated and 23 seriously injured at La Mon hotel on 17 February 1978, know exactly what such a person is and what they stand for.

I'm classed as a dinosaur here because I still know right from wrong and I'm still prepared to call a spade a spade. Unlike so many (at all levels of society and led by our spineless Westminster politicians) who find it convenient to overlook the facts, when I walk through the regenerating Belfast I know that I am actually wading through the blood of thousands of innocents, civilian and military, whose deaths the Establishment would prefer to airbrush from the record at the same time as it accords mass murderers the status of political statesmen.

The decent people of Northern Ireland will not forget the service and sacrifice of our armed forces, without which the cut-throats would have wreaked even more death and destruction upon us.

And we will not forgive the murderers or the morally bankrupt administration that has delivered us into their clutches after 40 years of torment.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

From the Irish Independent:

Operation Banner soldiers deserve grateful cheers, not our ungracious jeers (http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/operation-banner-soldiers-deserve-grateful-cheers-not-our-ungracious-jeers-1049303.html)

[The Helpful Stacker]

TheWizard - Aye, the signs on the side of the mill do bring back memories, especially the TSW one in the middle.

I actually used to like G40 but you can keep R850, bloody place felt like a prison.

[Rev I. Tin]

Does anyone know what will happen to the Garden of Remembrance situated at R850?

[The Helpful Stacker]

I believe its being moved to Lisburn (as are the signs).

[Rev I. Tin]

Thanks for the info THS.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

The link to the MOD FoI site no longer works.

I recently found an article on the mighty Wessex on the web. Since Northern Ireland and 72 Sqn are mentioned I thought it suitable for posting here.

The Unsung Workhorse (http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/2007/419wessex/wessex.htm)

Shortly after lift-off, the helicopter arrived over the Louch, and descended to extremely low level. There was no visibility with the naked eye, but with the NVG in place, even the dimmest light was clearly visible with a greenish hue. A smart yacht came into view, bristling with antennae. The Wessex formated with the vessel, with the wheels of the helicopter almost touching the aerials. The two craft remained in this low-level union for several minutes, before the helo departed, leaving the yacht to carry out its clandestine mission.

One of these (http://navynews.co.uk/articles/2002/0209/0002090501.asp) perhaps?

All three services played a part in keeping the level of violence down so that a political process could take place.