The 1st Battalion
1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Role: Light Role Infantry
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel JC PRICE OBE
TOUR
Based in Oxford Barracks, Munster, Germany (since Aug 2008) as part of 20 (Armoured) Brigade. Recently returned from Operation TELIC 13 (Iraq) and from Operation OCULUS (Kosovo).
BATTALION UPDATE - JUNE 2009
The last six months has been dominated by operational commitments in both Iraq (Op TELIC 13) and Kosovo (Op OCULUS(K)). This resulted in the Bn having an extended footprint stretching from A Coy in Baghdad to B Coy in Kosovo with the majority of the Bn dispersed throughout Southern Iraq and Basra City, all anchored by Rear Party back in Munster. In both Theatres, the Bn has acquitted itself well, rising to the particular challenges of each operation with notable stoicism and determination.
With Op TELIC 13 now successfully concluded the Bn is now, for the first time in nearly 18 months, complete in one location and looking to forward to a re-establishing Bn routine and undertaking the full range of Bn activities.
Despite the fragmented nature of over life over recent months morale remains high with the focus now every much on getting back to basics and enjoying all the opportunities that Germany and Munster have to offer. The Bn continues to maintain a real sense of purpose and relevance; there is much to start working towards on the return from summer leave.
OPERATIONS
- Op TELIC 13. A little over 300 1 YORKS deployed to Iraq in the period 10 Nov 08 - 28 May 09. A Coy deployed to Baghdad as the Protection Force (PROFOR) Coy and provided sterling service to the British senior officer community, including support to numerous high profile VIP visits. In the south operating within the UK MiTT Group, the 1 YORKS cohort was committed to mentoring tasks, in support of the UK mission to develop 14 Div of the Iraqi Army. A task successfully completed by early Apr 09.
- Op OCULUS(K). Employed in the surveillance role, B Coy operated throughout Kosovo. They raised the operational output and employed the full range of covert surveillance skills. Despite being the last UK Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Task Force (ISR TF) they were meaningfully employed to the very end, generating considerable actionable intelligence for a number of multinational agencies.
- Rear Party. A Rear Party provided tireless support to those deployed forward since its inception in Sep 08 and will not formally disband until Jul 09. Notably they have maintained the Bn’s flow of students to attend career courses and extensive welfare support. They also managed to find the players and time to make it through to the semi finals of the Army basketball competition.
CHANGE OF APPOINTMENTS
No changes over the reporting period.
FUTURE
The Bn now enters a period of recuperation with the emphasis firmly on pulling the Bn back together for future operations. Prior to that there are a number of key events:
- Op TELIC 13 and Kosovo Medals Parade - 17 Jul 09 in Munster.
- Exercise LION'S RETURN. A range of profile events from Home Coming Parades to sporting events - 21-24 Jul 09 in Yorkshire.
- Adventurous Training. The Bn will be undertaking adventure training activities ranging from parachuting through to hill walking in the Spanish Pyrenees and Alps. More ambitious and complex expeditions are being planned for 2010.
- Field Firing. The Bn will be put through its paces in order to dust itself off post summer leave and allow the new Bn ORBAT to solidify - 21 Sep - 10 Oct 09.