A Company Blog... A Week In The Life of Multiple 2

2nd June 2011

20 May 2011.... A Company’s week has been dominated by our first big Company operation, a helicopter assault deep into insurgent territory in the North of our Area of Operations. 60 Riflemen from the Company took part in the operation, moving back to Camp Bastion for rehearsals the night before and deploying by helicopter early in the morning.

The initial landing went without any major problems, although Lance Corporal Ingram will probably never forget getting bogged down in waist-deep mud the moment he stepped off the tailgate of the Chinook helicopter and having to be dragged out by the OC!

Sir John Wears His Wristband With Pride

2nd June 2011

Founder of the Auto Trader, chairman of Reading FC, Chancellor of the University of Reading and Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire, as well as all round uber businessman, Sir John Madejski wears his wristband with pride. He is flanked by two lovelies (Claire and Karla) from Team Green at the Pride of Reading Awards. Team Green are the 22 determined souls who ran the Reading Half Marathon in the memory of Corporal Richard Green and in aid of Care for Casualties. Richard of 3rd Battalion The Rifles died as a result of small arms fire near Sangin in Helmand province during the morning of Tuesday 2 March 2010 during the 3 RIFLES BG tour and is missed by all.

The QM's Locker

1st June 2011

TA Rifles officer Tristram Carter has recently set up in business selling military mugs.  His mugs are unique in that they are not the normal 'cap badge' based design.  He has teamed up with military artist Tim Reese to produce mugs depicting figures dressed in the unifiorms of a specific regiment or campaign.  The resulting mugs are both colourful and accurate in their representation of a regiment or campaign. Click on the 'Read more' link for more details on how to purchase a mug with an exclusive discount offer...

Chepstow Town Mayor is Wearing Her Wristband With Pride

1st June 2011

Proud supporter and friend of the Battalion Chepstow Town Mayor, Marian Lewis is wearing her wristband with pride!

Click here to donate and get a wristband.

On Patrol With C Company and An Update From Task Force Helmand

31st May 2011

New pictures from the front of C Company on patrol. Click on the read more link below to see more photographs.

Click HERE to listen to the 31st May Task Force Helmand Weekly update featuring Capt Edwards, 1 RIFLES.

1 RIFLES Involved In One Of The Largest Partnered Air Assaults Since Operations Began

30th May 2011

Hundreds of Afghan soldiers, supported by British and coalition forces have taken part in a major operation in Central Helmand to clear out insurgents from one of their last remaining strongholds.

Operation OMID HAFT has been planned and executed by the Afghan National Army (ANA) partnered by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops. For several days, Afghan Warriors have battled alongside Royal Marines and soldiers in harsh and hostile terrain where the enemy have intimidated and threatened the Afghan population for many years.

The Citizen Newspaper Pledges its Support

30th May 2011

In a series of articles in today's "The Citizen" Newspaper, the Gloucestershire based publication has called upon all its readers to show support to the Battalion by donating to the 1 Rifles Swift and Bold appeal and wearing their wristband with pride.

Ian Mean, Editor in Chief, has pledged his ongoing support to the Battalion in his weekly news feature 'Mean on Mondays' encouraging readers to do the same by making a donation. The paper have also featured "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here!" winner Stacey Solomon wearing her wristband with pride to further encourage readers to support the appeal. Click on these links to read the full articles online...  Mean on Mondays, Queen of the Jungle backs County's soldiers.

Queen of the jungle Stacey Solomon Wears Her Wristband With Pride

27th May 2011

I'm a Celebrity.... Get Me Out of Here! winner, X Factor finalist and new face of Iceland, Stacey Solomon was at a signing for her new book at Chepstow Book Shop today wearing her 1 Rifles wristband with pride! Stacey also insisted on signing a book 'To the 1 Rifles ladies' empathising with those left at home whilst the Battalion is deployed. Her son Zachary was also keen to wear a wristband and entertained himself playing with this during the afternoon's book signing where she took the time to talk to local fans.

Team Sky Proud to be Supporting 1 Rifles

24th May 2011

Professional Cyclist and Olympic Medalist Geraint Thomas MBE has been snapped at Maindy Flyers Cycling Club where he began his career with Bethany Maunders wearing their wristbands with pride! Team Sky and Maindy Flyers are proud to be supporting the appeal with Team Sky's Ben Swift also pictured on the Sky Tour bus.

He's Got The X Factor

23rd May 2011

Big shouts to celebrity snapper Claire for this excellent picture of X Factor's Danyl Johnson wearing his wristband with pride.  The boys and girls are out there on the front line but its amazing to see just who is here wishing them well and giving their support.  Click the image for a bigger version.

Slimming World

22nd May2011

Margaret Miles-Bramwell. entrepreneur and founder of Slimming World the UK's largest weight loss organisation shows her support by wearing her 1 Rifles wristband with pride.

Head of Armed Forces Visits Troops in Helmand

20 May 2011

The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, has paid a surprise visit to British forces serving in Afghanistan.

During a short trip to Helmand, Gen Richards met with the Commander of Task Force Helmand (TFH), Brigadier Ed Davis OBE, at TFH Headquarters in Lashkar Gah. He then travelled to Nad-e Ali North to spend time with Royal Marines from 42 Commando before visiting soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles at their base in Nahr-e Saraj South.

An Update and First Impressions From A Company

 19 May 2011

It’s been a busy week for A Company as we get into the swing of things and begin to understand the area around our Patrol Base.

The company has deployed on 2 very successful operations, one to clear suspected IEDs around a building site which will become a secondary school for older children across the Babaji area and the second to visit a small village called Zangal in the south of our area to meet the local elders and show them that we are committed to their security.

1 Rifles Battlegroup CO's Update - The Handover

16 May 2011

It had been a long time coming for us all, the handover. We knew about this tour in early 2010, before the dust had even settled from the previous deployment.  But with the handover came a simplicity, a relief almost, that Herrick 14, at last, had begun.  

The build up had been complex.  Training, regrouping, handing kit in, drawing kit out, learning and then practicing, practicing, practicing. Our equipment had changed, and we needed to learn how to use the new and improved versions.

 Making friends and settling in

 13th May 2011

A few more pictures from the front. Click on the read more link below to see all the photographs.  

Click here to donate and get your wristband...

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Riflemen Replace Paratroopers in Command in Helmand... more details and new pictures!

11th May 2011

As was announced on the 4th May the first Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) have officially begun their six month tour of Afghanistan. Having just completed their final training and acclimatisation in theatre, the Battalion has now formally taken over command of Nahr-E Saraj (South) (NES(S)). 'Read more' to see new pictures and details of the official handover released from the front....

A First Glimpse of Life in Afghanistan...

10th May 2011

Following the busy handover-takeover period from 2PARA the 1RIFLES Battlegroup are still settling in and have been capturing life in Afghanistan in a series of pictures. Click on the read more link below to see photographs of Mob Price, the battlegroup on the move, accommodation, vehicles and the gym. 

A Company arrive and settle in...

7th May 2011

It has taken almost a month to move the entire Company to Helmand Province from the UK, but A Company is now settled in to its new home in Patrol Base 4 and has been taking over responsibility for the area from B Company, 2^nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, which has been here during Op HERRICK 13.

Supporting our Riflemen - Becoming a Fundraiser

5th May 2011

Some bold souls have already got behind and us started there own fundraising effort. Click on these links to find out what they are or have been up to

Betty Swallack's London to Brighton; The Wifles; Pete Sawyer; The 1 Rifles Girls Afghan-athon

1 RIFLES Take Over From 2PARA In Nahr-E-Saraj

4th May 2011

1 RIFLES have now taken over from the men of the 2^nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) for the next six months of operations in the area of Nahr-E-Saraj (South). The handover was marked by an Afghan dinner on the 30^th April hosted by the Paratroopers to which The Riflemen, and Officers and NCO’s from partnered Afghan forces were invited. During the festivities speeches were made, gifts exchanged, fallen comrades remembered and friendships cemented. Now the dust is settling we are hoping to have pictures and further stories to share soon. Click here to donate and wear a wristband with pride...

 Polar Explorer and Film Producer Pom Oliver is Wearing Her Wristband With Pride.

 27th April 2011 

Pictured here in New Zealand, experienced Polar explorer and film producer Pom Oilver is supporting the 1 Rifles Wristband Appeal. Pom was part of the relay team which reached the North Pole in 1997 and then in 1999/2000 with the M&G Polar Team was one of the five first British all-women’s team to ski to the South Pole!

Click here to donate and get your wristband...

Over £1,000 raised by local businesses at the 2011 Forester Business Awards

21st April 2011

Businesses and guests from across the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire gathered last week at the Forest Hills Golf Club, Coleford for the 2011 Forester Business Awards. This fantastic evening hosted by The Forester newspaper had a 1 Rifles Swift and Bold theme thread throughout and saw companies of all sizes from a broad spectrum of industries being recognised in heavily contested award categories.

The Forester dedicated the evening to the 1 Rifles Swift and Bold appeal with a fantastic video being shown in support of the appeal, and a one minutes’ silence in memory of those killed in action during Herrick 9.

John Bishop shows further support with a surprise message!

13th April 2011 

John Bishop has showed further support for 1Rifles today by sending through a card with Good Luck wishes. Riflemen James Clark was surprised to receive this thoughtful gesture in this mornings’ post and brought it into the Welfare office to show us before sharing it with his fellow soldiers.  The card reads ‘To A Company 1Rifles, keep your heads down, be safe and no dramas!! All the best, John Bishop’.  Thank you John!  

Funny man of the moment John Bishop is Wearing His Wristband With Pride

12th April 2011 

John Bishop the multi-award winning comedian and star of ‘Live At The Apollo’, ‘’Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow’, ‘’Skins’’ and ‘’Mock The Week’’ showed his support for the 1Rifles Swift and Bold Appeal at his recent performance of his brand new show 'Sunshine' at Plymouth Pavillions. One of our Rifleman’s’ families met him during the interval of the show and grabbed a picture of him wearing his wristband with pride.

Click here to get your wristband.

Support Our Fundraisers!

25th March 2011

This weekend will see Viv Hargreaves, Editor of The Forester run in the Forest of Dean Half Marathon. Good luck Viv! Go to Viv’s online fundraising page here and make a donation...

Likeminded supporters of the 1 Rifles Wristband appeal are completing other personal challenges and organising events across the country throughout the year. We will aim to keep you up to date on these so we can all show our appreciation and make donations! To start your own online fundraising page click here, a dedicated Fundraisers page is coming to this site soon.

World Famous Wildlife Artist David Shepherd CBE Wears His Wristband With Pride

17th March 2011

World famous British wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE is wearing his wristband with pride.  

Donate and get your Swift and Bold wristband here

'Reel Big Fish' Caught Wearing His Wristband With Pride

14th March 2011

Rifleman Clark has snapped another celeb wearing their Wristband With Pride.Aaron Barrett, lead singer and guitarist of the band 'Reel Big Fish' shows his support...

A Sweet Treat for The Rifles

13th March 2011

Online hamper company ‘Choc n Floss’ have launched a HM Forces Hamper full of retro sweets that can be bought online and sent directly to BFPO addresses. What’s more they are kindly donating 10% of all the sales from this particular sweetie hamper to The Rifles’ Care for Casualties Appeal.

Run Forester Run!!! Local Newspaper shows Support for the Wristband Appeal

11th March 2011

The Forester has printed a comprehensive article on the upcoming 1Rifles tour of Afghanistan.  Click here to read it.  Showing commitment to the cause The Foresters' Editor, Viv Hargreaves. will be taking on her own personal challenge and running the Forest of Dean Half Marathon on the 27th March to help raise money for the 1 Rifles Wristband Appeal. Support Viv by going to her fundraising page.

Singer Frank Turner Wears His Wristband With Pride

8th March 2011

Singer song writer Frank Turner is wearing his wristband with pride.  Rifleman James Clark caught with him recently just before one of his gigs and has sent this great picture of him wearing it.