Lest We Forget

26th August 2010

Two excellent tribute videos below.

Video Tribute 1

Video Tribute 2

Nominate Your Hero for a Milly

26th August 2010

Now is the chance to nominate your Rifles Hero for an award.  Nominations from the public are being accepted by the Sun for their Sun Military Awards (Millies) which are awarded in December.  These categories may be of interest: Overcoming Adversity, Most Oustanding Soldier, Best Reservist, Support to the Armed Forces, Life Saver Award, True Grit: Home, Ture Grit: Overseas and Best Unit.

Read all about it here and get your nomination in now.

Marathon Karter

25th August 2010

This Saturday and Sunday 79 teams and one brave individual called Howard Kayman have booked in to take part in a 24-hour Karting marathon which will take place this weekend at the UK's largest Karting circuit at the South Tees Motorsport Park off South Bank Road, Middlesbrough.  The event has been organised by Bob Pope (Ex 3 RGJ) in aid of Help for Heroes and The 3 Rifles Wristband Appeal. If you are in the area get on over and support them.

For more information click here.

Paris for The Weekend

Richard Marsden - The Star

20th August 2010

Captain Nick Trowell from 3 Rifles entered the Action Medical Research London to Paris Charity Cycle ride.  He made it and in the process raised £1,200 for Action Medical Research and £1,000 for The Rifles Care for Casualties Campaign which looks after our Rifles Casualties.  Click here for a picture of him looking real happy in Paris.  Well done Nick, much appreciated.

Memorial on Behalf of Fallen Heroes

Richard Marsden - The Star

13th July 2010

Soldiers from The Rifles have been presented with a stained glass window dedicated to comrades killed in Afghanistan.  For the full story click here

Fish for Heroes

June 2010

Bishop Auckland and District Angling Club are organising a charity day at Witton Castle Lakes on Saturday 17th July 2010 in aid of Help for Heroes and the 3 Rifles Wristband Appeal. Looks like a great day out.  Activities to get you going are free fly fishing lessons complete with kit, turition lessons with Spey Casting Champion Scott Mackenzie, a fly fishing competition and general fun and games.

To find out more click here for the full information

Dolph Lundgren Wears His Wristband with Pride

21st May2010
Dolph Lundgren

A while back Jean-Claude Van Damme sent us a picture and a video of him wearing his wristband with pride.  Now Dolph Lundgren star of movies such as Rocky IV (Ivan Drago), Masters of the Universe, Johnny Mneumonic, Joshua Tree and opposite JCVD himself in Universal Soldier, has sent in proof that he too wears his wristband with pride.

Edinburgh Homecoming Parades Photos

20th May 2010

We have collected together a selection of photos from various sources of the Edinburgh homecoming parades.  Click here to have a look at our gallery

Darlington Donates £2,500 to The Appeal

The Northern Echo

18th May 2010

Councillor Jim Ruck, the Mayor of Darlington, presented a cheque for £2,500 from his mayor’s appeal fund to The 3 Rifles Swift and Bold campaign during a ceremony held in Durham Cathedral

Click here to read the full story in the Northern Echo.

Members of Ramside Hall Golf Club Raise More Than £800

The Northern Echo

17th May 2010

Address to 3 Rifles BG at The Medals Parade on 8th May 2010

HRH Princess Alexandra

17th May 2010

Having followed closely your achievements over the past months it is a great honour for me to be here today and I wanted to take this opportunity to say just two things. The first is thank you; To those who are standing in front of me thank you for your courage and determination in what must have been the most austere conditions and in the face of numerous dangers. Your achievements have been most remarkable and northern Helmand is without doubt a better place for your having been there.

Our Riflemen Still Need Your Help

17th May 2010

Now that the 3 Rifles Battlegroup has returned from Afghanistan the emphasis of the 3 Rfiles Wristband Appeal now shifts towards the medium and long term care of our casualties.  This is funded and managed by our parent charity The Rifles Regimental Trust and specifically through their Care for Casualties appeal.

There are a load of people out there who have worked tirelessly to raise funds for our casualties and their families.  Click the "Read more" link below for a list of people who need your help with links to their fundraising pages.

South Shields to Redford Barracks Walk Raises £10,000

Stephen Williams

13th May 2010

A group of brave souls lead by Peter Callaghan have raised and amazing £10,000 by walking from South Shields to Redford Barracks.  By my calculation that was 115 Miles.  They arrived just in time for the Medals Parade.  Serious kudos to them.

Read their story (written by Stephen Williams) and look at their pictures by clicking on the "read more" link below.  You can still sponsor them by going to their excellent site here

North Shields vs 3 Rifles Rugby Match

12th May 2010

Make sure that you support the family fund raising day at North Shields Rugby Club on Sunday 30th May 2010 in support of the 3 Rifles BG Wristband Appeal.  It is being organised by Michael Allott, the father of Jonathon Michael Allott (in picture) who was died as result of an explosion which occurred near Sangin, in Helmand province, during the morning of Friday 5 March 2010.

The fun day includes Rugby matches between North Shields and 3 Rifles (should be an interesting one for the referee) and between North Shields (U18) and Newcastle Falcons Academy.  There are lots of other things to do at the day, so it will be well worth the effort to support Michael and the lads.  Click here for full details.

3 Rifles Battlegroup Medals Parade

Various

11th May 2010

On the 8th of May 3 Rifles Battlegroup held their Medals Parade at Redford Barracks, Colinton. The Parade was inspected by HRH Princess Alexandra and various senior riflemen. It was watched by 100's of family members and friends. It was an exceptional afternoon.

Over the coming days we will collect as many links as we can to coverage of the parade. We commend in particular the videos of the double past which was quite something. Click read more to see what we have found and please send in any more links, photos or videos that you have and we will try to get them up.

Edinburgh Homecoming Parades

Various

11th May 2010

3 Rifles Battlegroup marched through Edinburgh on 7th and 8th of May 2010. Both were watched by thousands of supporters who thronged the route and noisely cheered the Battlegroup on its way. All who attended remarked on how joyful and how emotional both marches were. There has been a tremendous amount of media coverage, photos and videos.

Over the coming days we will collect as much of the coverage as we can here. Click read more to see what we have found and please send in any more links, photos or videos that you have and we will try to get them up.

Hereford Homecoming Parade

BBC Hereford and Worcester

2nd May 2010

3 Rifles BG marched through Hereford yesterday in the first of their homecoming parades.  Click here for a video of the parade and click here for photos.

Dont forget that you can still welcome back our heroes at any of the following homecoming parades in May.

May 7th - March from Redford Barracks to Colinton Parish Church down by the Dell, Step off 1000, return 1200 - Edinburgh
May 8th - March down the Royal Mile, Step off 1030 - Edinburgh

Move Over Inter - Veterans Show How it is Done

30th April 2010

Well done to the organisers, playesrs and spectators in the charity football game played on 10th April.  The game was played in memory of Rifleman James Brown, who was killed following a suicide improvised explosive device blast on a route into central Sangin, northern Helmand, Afghanistan, on Tuesday 15 December 2009. The two teams were represented by a Saturday veterans side (eDF Energy Vets FC) and a selection of James Brown's friends.  Between them they raised £1300 for The 3 Rifles BG Wristband Appeal.

Click the read more link to read John Motson's match report and view the gory photos.

Walk From Dunstanburgh to Warkworth Castle

30th April 2010

Congratulations and thanks go to Dawn and the North East Business Network Group who raised a total of £614 for 3 Rifles Wristband Appeal by walking from Dunstanburgh to Warkworth Castle on 19th April. Click on the picture for a bigger version.

Welcome Home!

28th April 2010

The last soldiers from 3 Rifles BG arrived back in barracks this evening.  Welcome home!  You can see them coming home on BBC News at 10.  The clip will appear here, radio coverage can be heard here.

Dont forget that you can welcome back our heroes at any of the following homecoming parades in May. 

May 1 - Homecoming Parade, Step off 1200 - Hereford
May 7th - March from Redford Barracks to Colinton Parish Church down by the Dell, Step off 1000, return 1200 - Edinburgh
May 8th - March down the Royal Mile, Step off 1030 - Edinburgh

Rifleman Allen's Song - More Time - Get a Copy Now

28th April 2010

Before he was killed Rifleman Allen was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device near Sangin on 7th November 2009 he recorded some songs and stored them on his laptop.   A family friend is currently putting them together as an album which will be released later on this year in aid of The Rifles Regimental Trust and the Army Benevolent Fund both of which look after long term care of casualties.

The first track "More Time"  is due to be released tommorrow, Friday, and it's pretty damn good as well. Make sure you buy a copy and support our soldiers.

You can hear a clip from the song and read the story by clicking here.  The full song and how to order it can be found by clicking here

Rogues Gallery Needed

27th April 2010

We are truly honoured and grateful to our supporters around the world.  This collection of photos have just arrived showing our Australian cheerleaders wearing their wristbands with pride.  Thank you.

Farewell to All That - Nearly There!

26th April 2010

All our soldiers from 3 Rifles BG are now "off the ground".  Some are still awaiting transport home and it is expected that, ash and other natural barriers willing, the last of the Battlegroup will be home on Wednesday.  You can welcome back our heroes at any of the following homecoming parades in May.  There are more in September.

May 1 - Homecoming Parade, Step off 1200 - Hereford
May 7th - March from Redford Barracks to Colinton Parish Church down by the Dell, Step off 1000, return 1200 - Edinburgh
May 8th - March down the Royal Mile, Step off 1030 - Edinburgh

Marathon Day - Congratulations and Thanks

25th April 2010

Congratulations and much kudus go out to Craig Deacon from Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club who ran the london marathon in 2hrs 54 minutes today raising over £600 for the wristband appeal.  And also to Dean Morris and Gary Hinch (in picture) who ran the Sheffield Half Marathon today in 1hr 34 mins 34secs and in 1hr 35 mins45secs.  They raised over £600 as well in aid of the wristband appeal. You can still sponsor Dean in aid of the wristband appeal through this link

Ross's Gloves Have Been Given to Their New Owner

24th April 2010

Back in January English super flyweight champion Ross Burkinshaw and Artic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders donated autographed boxing gloves and sticks to an auction run by The Star in aid of 3 Rifles BG Wristband Appeal. 

Matt gave a pair of signed drumsticks, used on The Artic Monkeys' recent tour of the UK, Europe and North America.  Ross donated autographed gloves he used when he unsuccessfully challenged for the British title against Lee Haskins in July 2009.

The memoribilia have now been won and given personally to the winners as per the photo on the left.  Many thanks and kudos to Ross and Matt for their tireless work supporting our the 3 Rifles BG Wristband Appeal.

3 Rifles Battlegroup CO's April Update

22nd April 2010
Lt Col Nick Kitson - CO 3 Rifles BG

It is with a palpable sense of release but a little bit of nostalgic checking-over-the-shoulder towards Sangin that I now write from the dusty desert military metropolis of Camp Bastion. Our time in Afghanistan now approaches an end – volcanic ash allowing. I last wrote in early March but despite the optimism of springtime to which I referred - and by which I still stand – the last month has turned out to be the most costly of the tour.

The pressure has not let up and nor have we taken the pressure off the enemy; the Battle Group has been kept on its toes until the end. Our brave soldiers have stayed up to the mark ensuring that we leave Sangin and a Kajaki on a high with a real sense of continuing momentum and unfinished business. We know our comrades from 40 Commando Royal Marines will waste no time in carrying this forward

3 Rilfes On The Move Again..... Oh No They Are Not

20th April 2010

Earlier on today media outlets reported that 200 of our boys and girls from 3 Rilfes, stranded because of the air travel restrictins across Europe, were on board HMS Albion in the Spanish port of Santander and were on their way home.  But it appears that this was a bit of a guess by Sky and the BBC.  The troops on board HMS Albion are in fact from RAF 9 Squadron, 33 Medical Regiment, the Royal Anglian Regiment and battle group support staff.  Better news to follow soon.

Full story can be found here

John Craven and Emma Spilsbury Wear Their Wristbands with Pride

18th April 2010

The television presenter, John Craven (Countryfile and John Craven's Newsround) and our very own Emma Spilsbury (picture courtesy of Country Life) wear their wristbands with pride.

Justin Lee Collins Wears His Wristband with Pride

15th April 2010

The Comedian, television and radio presenter Justin Lee Collins  wears his wristband with pride.

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Meet Scotland's band of sisters

4th April 2010

Carole Aye Maung, News of the World

In an army camp welfare centre they sit around me in their uniforms, telling their stories of the horror and anguish of war.  The badge they proudly wear is that of 3 Rifles - the hardest-hit regiment of any conflict since 1945.