Repatriation of Mj MJ Collins & L/Sgt MT Burgan !st IG

REPATRIATION REPORT

Wednesday 30^th March, 2011

From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:

Major Matthew James Collins (38), 1^st Battalion, Irish Guards

Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan (28), 1^st Battalion, Irish Guards

Major Collins and L/Sgt Burgan were killed by an IED when returning from a patrol with a company of the Afghan National Army, attached to the Danish Battle Group in the Nahr-e-Saraj District, Helmand Province, on 23^rd March, 2011.

Service veterans and members of the public turned out in the following “stations of vigil” to pay their respects to the fallen as the cortege made its way on the 47 mile route from the point of arrival at RAF Lyneham to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford. .

Wootton Bassett - Town Centre

This report from Duncan Wostenholm, RMA

A grey and drizzly day for the repatriation of these two members of the Irish Guards. Family, friends and comrades were among those lining the High Street, with townspeople and those who had travelled from afar to pay their respects.

Many veterans, with berets and medals, representing a cross section of regiments, corps and services were supported by Dave Powell and John Ellis of the RMA, who regularly attend the repatriations. More than 50 uniformed soldiers and comrades of the Irish Guards formed a detachment three ranks deep, with two REME soldiers.

56 riders of the Royal British Legion Riders Motorcycle Branch formed their own detachment on both sides of the road. The mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett was represented by her consort, Mr Bert Davey and the salute was led by Major General Bill Cubitt, Commandant of the Household Division and Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Irish Guards.

23 standards were paraded:

Royal British Legion - Abertillery, Backwell & Flaxbourton, Devizes, Dursley & Cam, Hungerford, Lambourn, Merthyr Tydfil, Minety & Somerset North Mendip.

Associations: The Irish Guards - West Midlands and North of England, The Coldstream Guards - Bristol, The Welsh Guards, Royal Navy Swindon and Pershore, Aden Veterans, Royal Berkshire Regiment - Windsor, Royal Regiment of Wales, Royal Observer Corps - 12 Group, RAF Corsham, The Canal Zone Veterans, The Parachute Regiment - Swindon and The Rifles.

Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419.

This report from Pat Bristow, RMA

The cortege passed through at 1430 hrs. In attendance were three Association standards: the Royal Marines - Swindon, the Royal Engineers - Swindon and the Royal Signals - Swindon. There were 10 service veterans and 18 members of the public. These were supported by 70 police officers from the adjacent Police HQ, led by Chief Superintendent Mike Jones.

At the Road Bridge - B4000 over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth.

Report by Derrick Jeans, RAFA

At the B4000 bridge over the A420, nine people accompanied District Councillor Elaine Ware, as the cortege passed by, at a very good, slow pace, which allowed those present to pay their respects in a fitting manner. All the traffic stopped and several people stood by their vehicles to pay their respects.

United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA..

Report by Jim Hawkins, RMA

There were only five Royal Marines veterans with us today, owing to various illnesses among our regular attenders. Anno Domini, I’m afraid - it comes to us all. We wish them a speedy recovery. Nevertheless, in addition to our RMA Poole District RMA standard, and our veteran friends from the RA, Royal Berks and the Korean War, we were very well supported by uniformed members of the armed forces from the Defence Academy. These included: Lt Colonel Marco Alakai, Finnish Army, Colonel Edward Gibbons and Majors Rhett Parkinson, Jamie Wilson, Oliver Bryant, Pease, Zannah Reid and Major Rachel Fawcett; Majors Jonathan Harding, Tom Wood , Bella Mayo and Gina Amos of the Adjutant General’s Corps, Major Rory Brading, Royal Marines, Majors Dave Glendenning and Richard Jordan, Royal Artillery, Major Simon Wilsey, Army Air Corps, Major Jamie Russell, Coldstream Guards, Major Marcus Hayakawa, Royal Engineers, Major John Russell, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Lt Col Paul Johnson, REME, Lt Col Robin Lindsay, RRS, Lt Col Brooking, Royal Dragoon Guards, Wing Commanders Jamie Osborne, Richard Wells and Jez Holmes and Squadron Leader Paul Rose, RAF.

In addition, there were 12 members of the public. Many thanks to PCs Greening and Gristwood of the MOD Police for providing traffic control.

The salute to the cortege was led by Major Gareth Light, Irish Guards and ordered by WO2 Peter Davies, RLC.

Folly Hill Lay-by - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction

This report by Joy Blake

Over 65 people attended the Folly Hill lay-by for the repatriation of the two soldiers returned today, with the cortege passing us by at 3.25 pm.

Among many veterans, members of the Faringdon & District branch of the Royal British Legion and other local and far away branches attended, together with townspeople from outlying villages and towns.

The Mayor of Faringdon, Mrs Margaret Barker and her escort attended, as well as a representatives from the Wantage Neighbourhood a_ction Group and members of the community police.

The following standards were paraded: Union flag, RBL Faringdon & District, Bampton, Highworth, Shrivenham and Wantage, and RAFA Carterton & Brize Norton and the Wantage Royal Naval Veterans’ Association.

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford - near Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way.

This report from John Walker RDG

We here at the Final Turn stood true and strong to honour the above soldiers.

There were 12 Royal British Legion standards on parade: Islip, Headington, Chalgrove, Henley, Wheatley, Bodicote, Hazelmere, Woodstock, Bicester, Kidlington, Kidlington Womens Section and Bloxham. The Canal Zone Veterans - Oxon, St George Society and the banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards.

There were 45 veterans in berets and 25 others from all three services. There were several former officers of The Irish Guards. The Lord Lieutenant of Oxford, Mr Ian Insham and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mr John Goddard also attended, along with an ambulance and two crews of the St John’s Ambulance Service.

John, from the church had already done the honours by placing the Union flag at half mast.

A crowd of about 200 members of the Oxford public lined the road at the Final Turn and many more were at the roadside from the foot of the hill all they way up from the ring road to us, with not only a Union but also an Ulster flag. Thames Valley police were out in force, doing their normal duties, as well as lining the route with us, under the command of Inspector S. Duffy. I would also like to mention here that a former regimental friend of mine, Sam Cameron, who is now a pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, came to Oxford for the parade. He was in full scarlet uniform for the occasion. He carried the banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards for me.

Thanks again to Ian Anderson (former Ox & Buck LI) for helping me put the lists together, and his good lady Diana for the home made cakes and scones. We also thank the veterans and their wives for helping to serve tea and coffee and for clearing away afterwards. The parade marshal was Graham Whelan (Para) and 2 I/c was J Lewendon (RA).

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Compiled by PH (Duty Scribe)

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

www.rmarepatnetwork.org

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