29 Commando RA

Commando's gunners return

kindness of the Sun Newspaper for our Heroes

The previous Link was: "Commandos"

29 Commando RA; A PROUD city welcomed home hundreds of hero Royal Artillery Commandos yesterday, 17th April 2009, after six months of gruelling action in Afghanistan. Crowds cheered, clapped and waved flags as the 450 troops paraded through Plymouth in their desert combats.

Shops and offices emptied as well-wishers lined roofs and windows to see the gunners of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery march by.

The Soldiers-who lost two popular officers to the enemy-beamed with pride as shouts of "Thank you!" and "Well done!" echoed out.

At a thanksgiving service the Regiment's padre Reverend Karl Freeman said: "There's a smile on our faces, but there's a tear in our eye also. Welcome back it's good to see you."

Commandos

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Beauties joined in the city's celebrations by handing out flags and balloons from their famous red bus.

And later the troops flocked to a huge Sun-backed party where they had photos taken with the girls and enjoyed food, drink and family fun.

During the Regiment's tour in Helmand, Captain Tom Sawyer and Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, were killed and several soldiers wounded. Captain Sawyer, 26, from Hertfordshire, died in an explosion. Lieutenant Lewis, 26, from Essex, was killed when his gun position was attacked.

But 29 Commando's CO Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Wilson said: "Morale could not be higher. My men have performed superbly and received endless praise for their sheer professionalism, dedication to duty and defiantly positive attitude. Not a day passed during hazardous operations against a determined Taliban when these Commando Gunners did not dream of parading through their adopted city."

The Regiment has been based

In Plymouth for 50 years. Lord Mayor Brian Vincent said: "I was passionate to hold this parade to show that as a city we support them and care for them; they deserve it."

The day began at the Citadel, the 17th-century fortress where the Commandos are based. The Sun's girls Petra, 22, Ruth, 24, Rhian, 22, and Poppy, 18, delighted them by helping serve huge breakfasts.

Then they shared a fun parade drill led by Battery Sergeant Major Jamie Powell, who had to tell them to stop chatting. And Ben Koroi, 25, from Figi, got a kiss from Ruth to celebrate his promotion to Bombardier.

At 9:30 a.m. Regimental Sergeant Major Mark Scoullar called the troops to attention and marched them out into the city. They headed for the packed service at St Andrew's Church taken by the Rev Freeman.

From there the Regiment, led by a 105mm field gun, marched along the Royal Parade to the Piazza on Armada Way to receive service medals for their Afghanistan tour.

Those honoured included Captain Kate Philip

And Gunner Mark Stonelake who both lost a leg, and Gunner Paul Makin, who broke an ankle, Paul was flanked by his brother, Lance-Bombardier Tony Makin, who lost a leg in 2007. Corporal Simon Vaughan, who was badly injured by a bomb, was presented with his medal in Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital.

Among those paying tribute was Widow Ivy Cox, 95, whose husband William fought in the Second World War with the Suffolk Regiment. Ivy, a great-great-great gran said: "It's only right to come and support today's soldiers. What they are doing for us is wonderful."

D-Day veteran Cyril Dancer, 85, also saluted his modern-day successors and said: "I feel very proud."

After the parade the troops changed into civvies for the party at Plymouth Albion Rugby Club. The Sun donated £5,000 bar float and handed out T-shirts saying "My Daddy Is A Hero" while kiddies played on a bouncy castle and a jazz band performed.

Help 4 Heroes (H4H): HOW TO GIVE MONEY

A SIGNED David Beckham England T-shirt was sold for £3,200 on our eBay Help for Heroes auction; taking the total past £30,000.

A pair of legendary racing driver Stirling Moss's signed gloves fetched £1,020.

And visits to the sets of East Enders and Coronation Street have brought in £8,400. To join the auction and see the lots on offer go to www.ebay.co.uk/thesun

By phone-ring 0300 200 1066 and use automated system (calls charged at national rate).

By Text-text HERO to 60999 to donate £5, which will be deducted from your phone bill (Standard network charges apply. Support line 0845 673 1760)

By Cheque-make out to Help For Heroes and post to H4H, Unit 6, Aspire Business Centre, Ordnance Road, Tidworth, SP9 7QD.

Download the gift aid form from website or for more information and to register an event, go to: www.thesun.co.uk/heros

Family's Grief For Comrade

By John Troup: RELATIVES of one of the heroes who failed to make it back from Afghanistan told of their agony as they watched yesterday's homecoming in Plymouth. Tears welled in the eyes of Lieutenant Aaron Lewis's family as his comrades returned without him.

His brother Brett, 31, who plans to run the London Marathon in his memory said: "Aaron should have been coming home. But at least he got his men home safely."

Aaron, 26, was killed when his gun position came under Taliban fire. IT consultant Brett, who made the pilgrimage to Plymouth from his home in Rochford, Essex, told how his little brother's dream had been to run the London Marathon.

He said: "When we cleared out his room after he died we found the application form on the wall." Now it is left to Brett to perform the gruelling feat.

He aims to boost The Sun's Help for Heroes campaign by more than £3,500 Parents Barry and Helen have already raised £5,000 towards a memorial honouring-29 Commando-which will bear the name of Aaron.

Brett said of signing up for the marathon: "I'm running this race because Aaron won't ever be able to do it himself. He died a hero and I want to make him proud." To support Brett visit: www.justgiving.com/brettlewis

MyView by Tom Newton Dunn

Defence Editor

The Sun has led the charge to drum up support on the streets for our war weary returning heroes. Here's why we did it again yesterday.

Young men and women don't join the Forces to line their pockets. The MoD's pitiful salaries are two small for that. Neither do they do it for an easy life. Everyone knows there's a chance they'll never see loved ones again if things go badly during their gruelling six months in Afghanistan.

For most, their motivation is simple-they want to make a difference. And for that, they deserve respect. The least we can do is spare half an hour on our local high streets to say thank you when they come back.

MyView by Returning hero L/Cpl Ian Strickland

I've been with the regiment for eight years and done two previous tours-and this was by far the biggest and best homecoming. I never expected anything like this and I don't think any of the lads did either.

It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck-you feel appreciated for what you have done. It shows the country is grateful for the job we do and that means so much. It's a huge morale boost and great that people are showing their appreciation.

I was amazed at the numbers who came to cheer us. We're really grateful for what the Sun's done too. Having the Page 3 girls around got the day off to a good start and put a smile on everyone's face.

Their Dragon in Helmand

One-hundred and fifty miles to the north, at the most remote of the various British strongpoints scattered around Helmand province, one weapon strikes fear into the enemy.

It's not an Apache helicopter. It's not a Viking assault vehicle. It's not a Jackal armoured vehicle, It's not a Sea King helicopter. Nor is it a Lynx helicopter. It's a Dragon.

It's the Taliban's nickname for the Royal Marines 105mm field gun.

The Royal Marines gunners, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, hauled one of their howitzers to a hilltop outside Musa Qaleh in Northern Helmand.

The peak of Roshan Tower, a couple kilometres north of the regional centre, which dominates the town and surrounding terrain.

It took four days to get a gun from 8 Commando Battery to the top of the tower and prepare the peak as a gun platform, as gunners moved not merely the two ton gun, but also its ammunition boxes, each weighing one-hundred pounds.

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Once in place, the gun commanded

The town, the British forward operating base and the other strongpoints in the Musa Qaleh valley.

Above all it commanded respect from the enemy.

"The Taliban are running scared because of the Dragon," said Gunner Thomas Alder, whose gun is so dubbed by the insurgents, "thanks to the huge belching flame that spits out of the barrel when it fires."

And what's not to be afraid of? The 105mm can acquire, engage and hit a target at two miles range in under five seconds.

The gunners' vantage point on Roshan Tower allows them not merely to engage Taliban forces moving in the valley below, but also give British troops a running commentary of enemy movements.

"The gun is phenomenally accurate-the Dragon's the most feared weapon in our area by the Taliban. They are genuinely frightened by it. And it's the most loved weapon by our forces," said Major James Vigne, Commander of 8 Commando Battery.

Since it was nicknamed the Dragon, the effort of un-camouflaging the gun is now called: "bringing the dragon from its lair."

The next Link below will be: "30 Commando Royal Marines"

29-Commando-RA 30 Commando Royal Marines

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