BATTLE HONOUR AWARDS FOR OP TELIC

10 Nov 2005 01:15 PM

Her Majesty The Queen has approved a Battle Honour and Theatre Honour to be awarded to units in the British Army for their operations in Iraq in 2003.

Commenting on the Honours, Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, said,

"These Honours represent an historic and traditional means of recognising the immense efforts British soldiers have made in bringing democracy to Iraq. Our soldiers and their families can be very proud of the role they have performed and the sacrifices they have made to guarantee a brighter future for the people of Iraq."

In June 2005 Her Majesty The Queen approved the award of a Theatre Honour 'IRAQ 2003' and the Battle Honour 'AL BASRAH' for units of the British Army. Subsequently, individual Regiments and Corps applied to the Army Honours and Distinctions Committee for the award of these Honours. Following receipt of the Committee's recommendations, the Executive Committee of the Army Board has obtained The Queen's permission to award the following honours:

Regiments and Corps are to be awarded the Theatre Honour 'IRAQ 2003':

The Life Guards
The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
The Royal Yeomanry
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)
The Queen's Royal Lancers
Royal Tank Regiment
Irish Guards (already awarded1)
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Light Infantry
The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment)
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
The Parachute Regiment
Army Air Corps

The following Regiments and Corps are to be awarded the Battle Honour 'AL BASRAH':

The Life Guards
The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)
The Queen's Royal Lancers
Royal Tank Regiment
Irish Guards (already awarded)
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Light Infantry
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
The Parachute Regiment
Army Air Corps

Note to Editors:

1. HM The Queen gave early approval, in June 2005, for the Irish Guards to be awarded the Theatre Honour 'IRAQ 2003' and the Battle Honour 'AL BASRAH'. This early award allowed the Irish Guards to Troop their colour, with their new Theatre Honour emblazoned upon it, at The Queen's Birthday Parade.