Iraq

The following report and pictures were Emailed to me by John Hyland yesterday 29th April 2007

The 1st Battalion, The Irish Guards will shortly be deploying to Southern Iraq to serve on ‘Op Telic 10’. Being a Guards Regiment, tradition dictates that the battalion forms up once a week for a church parade. Thursday will be the last opportunity for the battalion to parade in full before elements begin their journey to Basra. To mark this occasion the final church parade will be conducted with a little extra pomp and ceremony which will include the Band of The Irish Guards and the Regiment’s own Choir.



Photographs by Chris Fletcher

The battalion, 400 strong, will step off from their base, New Mons Barracks to the Cathedral Church of St Michael & St George, at the top of Queen’s Avenue, led by their Regimental Pipes and Drums; the Guardsmen will march behind in their desert pattern combats.

The church service will be conducted by Father Nick Gosnell, the Battalion Padre, himself a veteran of the Falklands Conflict, Kosovo and the initial war fighting phase of Iraq (Telic 1). The service will be accompanied by the Regimental Band of the Irish Guards dressed in full ceremonial uniform complete with bearskins, and the regiment’s own choir who will have travelled from Liverpool especially for this occasion.

IRISH GUARDS SINGERS

A series of religious services has been arranged by the Irish Guards Singers for the safe return of our lads of the 1st battalion Irish Guards. It is hoped that as many as possible will show, not only by their presence, but also their genuine desire to pray for the battalion and their families, that QUIS SEPARABIT and all it means, is still a force to be reckoned with.

Religious Services

For The Safe Return of the 1^st Bn Irish Guards

Saturday July 14^th. at 7-pm.

St Francis De Sales. RC Church, Hale Rd Walton Liverpool .

Sunday August 19^th 9-30am

St Nicholas CoE Church . Pier Head ( Liverpool Parish Church )

Sunday September 1^st, 10-00am

St Oswalds. CoE Church , Ronald Ross Avenue Netherton. Bootle

Saturday October 6^th. 6-pm.

St Aloysius RC Church. Twig Lane, Huyton.

Saturday November 17^th, 7-pm

St Francis De Sales, Hale Rd , Walton, Liverpool

Sunday December 2^nd. 10-am

Metropolitan Cathedral.(In the Crypt) Mount Pleasant , L/pool

Sunday January 20^th. 10.30-am.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.(Lady Chapel) Service of Thanksgiving

The Irish Guards Singers will attend all the services

John Hyland

Irish Guards Singers

0151.423.3004