VIMY COMPANY are safely returned from Op HERRICK 16 following a successful mobilisation as part of the combined Afghan, Danish and Britishforce commanded by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in Nahr E Saraj North.
VIMY Company can trace its formation back to September 2010, following The London Regiment’s annual training package at RAF St Mawgan when nearly 200 men and six women from the reserve forces expressed interest in volunteering for operational service. The majority of these volunteers were drawn from The London Regiment’s four rifle companies but were augmented by soldiers from 151 Transport Regiment and 71 Signals Regiment. This marked the start of 12 months preparation for mobilisation including live firing packages in Sennybridge and Warcop as well as participation on Exercise Prairie Thunder III in Canada.
By 25 November 2011 the HERRICK 16 cohort had formed and VIMY Coy was raised comprising four Officers, three Warrant Officers and 51 other ranks who all successfully completed a week long mobilisation assessment at the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC) at Chilwell in Nottingham before conducting yet more range work in a week-long package at Lydd and Hythe. This was the culmination of 12 months’ hard work and commitment, well above and beyond the normal rigours endured by a TA soldier. However, in reality it was just the beginning of a very testing and demanding 12 months which is widely considered to have been the most difficult tour undertaken by The London Regiment in modern history.
The majority of VIMY Company soldiers deployed with 1 GREN GDS and performed roles at Section, Platoon and Company level right across the Battalion orbat. A smaller number were also employed in headquarters staff functions. In addition, Maj Brown and Sgt Scott deployed with 3 RIFLES as part of a Brigade Advisory Group (BAG) and Cpl Anderson deployed with 1 WELSH GUARDS in the Police Mentoring and Advisory Group (PMAG).
The statistics give some indication of the nature of the tour. During 239 days in Afghanistan the combined British, Danish and Afghan Battle Group with which VIMY Coy served and fought was engaged in 402 small arms fire contacts, suffered 117 IED strikes and made a further 241 IED finds. We also tragically lost 28 KIA, including six British soldiers and a further 149 WIA, including three from The London Regiment.
History will judge whether this investment in blood and treasure was worthwhile but during VIMY Company’s time in Afghanistan a small town in Helmand Province, roughly the size of Aldershot, has been made a significantly safer place to live. Violence in Gereshk is at a 5 year low and at a level where Afghan National Army and police forces have been able to take the lead in security provision. Governance is stable and taking its first tentative steps as a credible administration and most importantly of all, the economy is booming.
These are significant advances, not yet irreversible, but we must hope we have created a sufficiently compelling glimpse of what life could be like that the majority of Afghans will support a government administration and resist sliding back into the bad old days of uncertainty and violence.
Major Chris Green.