Captain Tim Hay, Sapper Richard Vivien and Sapper Mark Cowley of the Jersey Field Squadron are on their way to Iraq at the moment, with further call-ups expected from Jersey’s Territorial Army members and reservists.The four Jersey militia members who are in Iraq at the moment – Corporals Alison Williams and Peter Lucia, and Staff Sergeants Chas Thompson and John Le Marrec – are expected back shortly.There are also six regular service personnel serving in Iraq, but none of them is attached to the military police, four of whom were killed earlier this week in southern Iraq.
National media reports this morning suggested that the four men were executed by their Iraqi captors after surrendering.The four, and two regular servicemen who were also killed in action this week, were the first British servicemen to die since the end of the war.This morning, the chairman of the Armed Services Support and Advisory Council expressed condolences to the families of the servicemen killed and injured during the recent incidents in southern Iraq.Owen Wiscombe said: ‘It is with great relief that we can report that to date we have received no reports of any Islanders being involved in the incident or any injuries or otherwise to our personnel in theatre.’The TA have been a major part of the work going on.
(UK Defence Minister) Geoff Hoon’s policy is to get as many of them involved as possible.
With the situation as it is we will most certainly have further call-ups in the not-too-distant future.’A further 5,000 servicemen from the TA, reservists, and the regular forces are due to join coalition forces in Iraq, and Mr Wiscombe said it was likely that Islanders would make up part of that contingent.He added that after much discussion, it had been decided that the Town Church service scheduled for Sunday 27 July would be cancelled.
Mr Wiscombe said that it would be inappropriate to hold a service until such time as all the Jersey servicemen and women were safely back home.
