Post by Salem6 on Dec 11, 2004 15:56:11 GMT
Two hundred soldiers of the Black Watch regiment have been reunited with their families after a six-month Iraq tour.
Black Watch troops arrived back in the UK on Saturday
The tour included a controversial deployment to Camp Dogwood, near Baghdad, in which five soldiers died.
There was jubilation as troops greeted partners and children in foggy weather at their base in Warminster, Wiltshire, on Saturday morning around 0930 GMT.
But homecoming joy mixed with fears the regiment is under threat from plans to reduce the size of the Army by 2008.
'Insensitive'
All of the 850-strong group are expected to be back in the UK by Monday.
The returning soldiers marched the final yards to their base, through the early morning mist, before being greeted with hugs and kisses from relieved loved ones.
Michelle Halliday, 38, told of her delight as she waited at the base for the return of her husband, Corporal Scott Halliday, 33, from Fife.
However, she voiced resentment at the way the regiment's possible disbanding had been handled by the government.
Mrs Halliday, who was waiting with her daughters, Ashley, 10, and Megan, 12, said: "I think it was very insensitive to bring that up while they were still in Iraq."
BLACK WATCH DEATHS
November 2004: Pte Pita Tukatukawaqa, 27, died when a roadside bomb hit his Warrior armoured vehicle near Camp Dogwood
November 2004: Sgt Stuart Grey, Pte Paul Lowe and Pte Scott McArdle were killed by a suicide bomber near Camp Dogwood
October 2004: Pte Kevin McHale was killed when a bridge collapsed as his Warrior armoured vehicle moved nearer Baghdad
She added: "It must have been hard for the guys - one minute they [the government] were trying to say how great the Black Watch were and the next minute they were saying 'right, you're in the bin'."
Reunited with his wife, Corporal Halliday said: "It feels really good to be back - a real relief, but it is freezing, much colder than Basra was."
Leave starts on Thursday for six weeks, and many soldiers are expected to return to Scotland for Christmas.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's Commons announcement about the future of the regiment is due next week.
Sadness
The proposed changes include cutting Scotland's six single-battalion regiments to five and merging these into a super regiment.
The plans are widely opposed in Scotland, with fears the reform will lead to recruitment problems and a loss of local identity.
Tony Blair has said the decision is being driven by the Army rather than by politicians.
Mr Blair had also faced criticism that the month-long deployment of tan 850-strong battle group to Camp Dogwood was a political step to support George Bush.
The move was to fill in behind an American unit sent to fight in Falluja.
During the deployment three soldiers died in a suicide car bomb attack along with an Iraqi translator, another in a roadside bombing and one in a road traffic accident while troops were stationed there.
The Black Watch was formed in 1725 to police the Highlands and recruits from the Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife areas.
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond was among the first to send a welcome back message.
"We can all breathe a sigh of relief when the entire Black Watch Regiment are back safe and sound in the UK," he said.
Black Watch regimental secretary Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Lindsay said the soldiers were "absolutely delighted and immensely relieved" to be home in time for Christmas.
But, he added, this was mixed with sadness because of the deaths of some of their comrades.
"But we must also remember the families of the young soldiers we lost in Iraq."
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4086753.stm