Troops to parade through Chippenham before Afghanistan mission (From Wiltshire Times)

Troops to parade through Chippenham before Afghanistan mission

11:20am Monday 4th March 2013 in Latest News

Soldiers and officers from 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, will say farewell to Chippenham by exercising their right to the Freedom of the town.

The regiment, commanded by Lieut Col Suzi E Donoghue, will march through the town on Tuesday, March 19, after a service at St Andrew’s Church enabling regiment to say goodbye to the town and its people before deploying to Afghanistan as part of 1 Mechanized Brigade.

Accompanied by the band of the Royal Logistic Corps, the route for the march will include Causeway, Market Place, High Street and The Bridge.

About 200 will be on parade, of whom about 150 will be going to Afghanistan during the next few weeks, following a number of the regiment’s personnel who will already have deployed by March 19.

Troops are due to being parading from the Causeway just after noon on March 19.

Once in Afghanistan, personnel from 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment will form the majority of the Theatre Logistic Group, providing British forces in Afghanistan with everything from ammunition, body armour, vehicles, and weapons, to fuel, rations, medical supplies and water.

A more recent extension to the Theatre Logistic Group’s role is bringing back equipment to the UK for refurbishment and reconditioning.

The regiment continues to provide medical supply capability which supports the in-theatre hospital, and is already preparing elements of its personnel for possible deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

Most of those deploying from the regiment’s home at Buckley Barracks will be stationed at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.

Others will operate from Kandahar, Kabul and various forward operating bases within Helmand Province.

Recently renamed a theatre logistic regiment, the regiment underwent a role change in late 2012 which meant the disbandment of 92 Sqn and the formation of 66 Sqn.

A change in structure has meant the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment soldiers have moved to Aldershot while 91 Squadron personnel who, although they still work at Buckley Barracks, have re-subordinated under a sister Regiment – 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment primarily based in Aldershot.

The Freedom of the town was bestowed on 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment by the mayor of Chippenham, David Powell, on January 19 last year.

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