2002 News Archive

13th November 2002

Rangers from 1 R IRISH on fire-fighting duties during the firemans strike

Fire Fighting duties on Op FRESCO

The 1st Battalion Royal Irish commenced fire fighting duties on 13 Nov as part of the cover provided by all three services for Op Fresco during the Fire-fighters strike.

Elements of the Battalion, consisting of 404 Officers and men, are manning 18 Green Goddesses which have deployed to Temporary Service Fire Stations (TSFS) at:

  • Bedford
  • Luton
  • Mansfield
  • Woking
  • Redhill
  • Chillwell
  • Bilborough

The TSFS at Bilborough in Nottingham has proved to be the busiest station within the 49 Brigade area of responsibility.

13th October 2002

Insignia of 16 Air Assault Brigade

New Regimental Colonel takes post

Colonel Simon Fordham has taken over as Regimental Colonel vice Colonel Stewart Douglas who has moved to the United Nations as Chief of Staff based in Sierra Leone.

Colonel Fordham brings to The Royal Irish Regiment his long experience and distinguished career having been commissioned into The Royal Irish Rangers and served worldwide in a variety of Command and Staff appointments.

We wish him well in his new appointment as Regimental Colonel based in HQ R IRISH, Ballymena.

17th June 2002

Ranger Stuart James McMaster : 1 R IRISH

Ranger McMasters killed in Canada

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Ranger Stuart McMaster, a 20-year-old Royal Irish soldier from Northern Ireland.

Ranger McMaster died whilst on parachute training in Canada - he was originally from Ballymena. He died on Saturday afternoon near Calgary in Canada where he had been training. Eyewitnesses say that the soldier's parachute tangled or failed to open properly.

An inquiry is now being conducted into his death by The Ministry of Defence.

Our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies go to his parents and family circle at this time of great sorrow. Little can be said by us to assuage the anguish they are feeling at this time. We members of The Royal Irish Regiment, past and present, hope that the readers of this sad news item will pray for the family in the coming weeks and in the future.

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