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The Light Infantry Op Telic Medal Parade

 By Robert Millar, Secretary Royal British Legion Paderborn

November 13, 2006 is a day that will be etched on the memories of 4 members of the Paderborn Branch for many years to come.  Jim Griffiths MBE, Chairman; Robert Millar, Secretary; Simon Hogben, Treasurer and Patrick O’Connor-Close were invited to present Op TELIC Medals to soldiers from the 1^st Battalion the Light Infantry, at their Medal Parade in Alanbrooke Barracks, Paderborn, Germany.  The four Legion members were all proud and considered it an honour to be asked to carry out this task. 

Jim Griffiths a former Light Infantry soldier whose military career spanned a total of 27 years from 1956 to 1983 saw service in Jamaica, Germany, British Honduras, Singapore, Malaysia Australia, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.  He is a founder member of the Paderborn Branch and was instrumental in its formation in February 1986.  As a former Light Infantry Man he never imagined that he would be called upon to present medals to his former Regiment as a civilian.

Patrick O’Connor-Close joined the Engineers in 1945 and was posted to Germany at the end of WW2.  He left the Army in 1948 and re-joined as an infantier with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1950.

Simon Hogben served with the 16/5 Queen’s Royal Lancers.  He enlisted in 1973 and served for 20 years.  His operational tours include United Nations Forces in Cyprus and Northern Ireland

Robert Millar formerly of 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, served as a Rapier (air defence missile system) detachment commander in the Falklands Conflict in 1982, and the first Gulf War in 1991 in addition to UN tours of Cyprus and General Service in Northern Ireland.  He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2001 for services to the Community.

The Light Infantry Battle-Group deployed as part of 20 Armoured Brigade to Iraq.  During their tour they were attacked over 150 times.  The Brigade lost 24 soldiers during the 7 month tour from April – November 2006 and 109 were wounded.  Many members said that being presented their medals by members of such a first class organisation added meaning to the occasion.

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

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Photographs by Simon Hogben