LAST UPDATE 18th January 2012-More Army cutbacks...

Cutbacks shrink the Army to smallest size since Crimean War as Gurkhas bear the brunt of latest military cuts

Read more: CLICK

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

09.12.2011:I have heard that U.K. Army personnel numbering has been reorganized. The old system apparently finished for Other Ranks at 256XXXXX. The new system is for all ranks and genders and appears to have jumped forward to 3XXXXXXX (i.e. from 25 million to 30 million) I don't know whether these details are correct. Reg Mugford (23137793).

006.12.2011:The Executive Management of the RMPA North America Branch has just announced the appointment of Michael Shuster as the new Branch Chairman.

The appointment follows the recent passing of previous Chairman, James (Jim) Prott.

10.11.2011: CLICK.British Troops to finally leave Germany where they have been since 1945.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

p> 04.04.2011: CLICK. Female RMP makes numerous arrests in Afghanistan.

03.03.2011: CLICK. Female RMP Captain behaved like love-sick teenager.

Message received 25th December 2010: DORSET BRANCH-RMPA

Greetings Ian, You are continuing to do a fantastic job with this site and we can only congratulate and thank you. Thought you may like to know that just over 2 years ago we started the Dorset Branch of the RMPA and now have 48 full members and nearly as many associate members. We meet quarterly but also organize other excursions and events which have included a weekend visit to the National arboretum and memorial in Staffordshire where we met up with members of the Ulster Branch, and we have a visit to the Royal Chelsea Hospital arranged for the Spring. Keep up the excellent work and from all at this Branch we wish you, your family and any other ex members of the Corps worldwide a very merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy 2011. Regards, Gerry Needham.

17.11.2010:Received from Mike Seabourne:SENIOR MILITARY POLICE OFFICER TO KEEP HIS RANK.

A senior army officer described by high court judges as an unreliable witness, and allegedly accused of asking his staff to lie on oath, has retained a top post within the military police, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Colonel Dudley Giles was a key MoD witness in a military police investigation that dismissed claims that British soldiers mutilated and murdered civilians in Iraq.

A review by Greater Manchester police subsequently concluded the investigation failed to collect forensic evidence and ignored key Iraqi witnesses. The inadequate military police investigation into the incident forced the MoD to set up a public inquiry which, it was revealed today, will involve about 400 British military witnesses, and scores of Iraqi witnesses interviewed in a Beirut hotel, at a total cost of £11m.

The MoD said today that Giles would keep his rank of Deputy Provost Marshal – second in command of the Royal Military Police – despite withering criticism last year from high court judges, but he will no longer be responsible for investigations. Were he to again appear as a witness in similar proceedings, the judges said: "It is our view that any court seized of those proceedings should approach his evidence with the greatest caution."

The comments were made by judges, led by Lord Justice Scott Baker, at a judicial review of the MoD's response to claims that British soldiers killed 20 unarmed Iraqis in May 2004 after they had been involved in a fierce gun battle. The gunfight became known as the Battle of Danny Boy, a British military checkpoint near Majar al-Kabir, north of Basra.

Bob Ainsworth, then defence secretary, offered the court his "profound regrets" about the handling of the case and agreed to set up a public inquiry. The al-Sweady inquiry, named after one of nine Iraqis alleging serious mistreatment by British soldiers, was set up under Sir Thayne Forbes, a former high court judge.

The inquiry's counsel, Jonathan Acton Davis QC, said yesterday that more Iraqi witnesses than anticipated had been found, including an Iraqi who, he said, "was working at the local hospital on 14 May 2004 and travelled to 'Danny Boy' in an ambulance whilst the battle was taking place". Iraqis are being flown from Basra to Beirut by the inquiry because of the difficulties, including visa restrictions, in bringing them to the UK, British officials said yesterday. The inquiry is now likely to continue into 2012, Acton Davis said.

When Giles was asked last year why he had not referred in a witness statement to a document that disclosed British soldiers had detained between 10 and 12 Iraqis, Giles told the high court that he did so to avoid prejudicing any future prosecution. "When this assertion was examined, it became obvious that it was wholly without foundation," the judges said. Rabinder Singh, QC for the families of the Iraqis, told the high court: "[Giles] did not tell the truth". Emails, subsequently leaked, allegedly show that Giles told his staff to change their witness statements – asking them to remove claims that they were so overworked that they requested support from additional military police investigators.

In one email, Warrant Officer Paul Terry, of the military police, wrote: "I am not sure what it is I am supposed to be clarifying/explaining without being economical with the truth." He is reported to have added: "I will happily do as ordered, but will not subsequently lie on oath ..."

A group of former Metropolitan police detectives flew to Nigeria this summer to question one of the military police officers about the emails. They were sent to Nigeria on behalf of the al-Sweady inquiry, sources familiar with the case said yesterday. The MoD did not deny the existence of the emails, or the veracity of their content.

17.11.2010: Received from Mike Seabourne:NO PROSECUTION IN 'FRIENDLY FIRE' CASE.

No charges are to be brought in connection with the killing of a Royal Military Policeman in Afghanistan who died after being shot by a British army sniper, reports The Guardian newspaper.

Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard, 22, was on his first tour of duty when he was shot dead in December last year while manning an observation post at night. As the Observer revealed last month, his mother, Helen Perry, learned only five months later at an army service for returning personnel that her son had been shot by a sniper.

An initial report into his death showed he had been under observation for more than an hour before the sniper opened fire. An officer with him on the observation post had tried to alert colleagues to their position with infrared devices. The report revealed that problems with the radio equipment made communication with surrounding bases hard. A changeover of personnel at one base meant soldiers observing Pritchard did not know he was one of them. Questions have also been raised about the use of night-vision goggles and the quality of the Osprey body armour he was wearing.

"I am bitter and angry," Perry said yesterday as she visited the Cenotaph in London before Remembrance Sunday. "I want to see somebody held accountable for my son's death, not because I want to see somebody punished but because I want the truth to come out." Two officers from the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch and a military lawyer broke the news to Perry last week at a territorial army base near her home in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Last month the Ministry of Defence had told her that a soldier was to be referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority for manslaughter by gross negligence. It was left to the authority to decide if the soldier should be charged, opening the way to a court martial. But it has concluded that no prosecution should be brought.

Perry was told the officer commanding the sniper did not owe a duty of care to Pritchard because he was not under his command. The sniper would not be prosecuted because he was allowed to open fire if he believed that his life was in danger. The report reveals that no shots were fired by Pritchard or his colleagues.

Perry voiced concern at the speed with which the authority had reached its decision. She said: "The commanding officer has rights, the sniper has rights, but what about my son's rights?"

An inquest is expected to be held next year. The coroner has pledged that the army's full report into Pritchard's death will be shared with his family. John Cooper, QC, the barrister representing Pritchard's family, said they were "of the view that it was important the facts come out". Cooper said: "They are disappointed and frustrated that there will be no criminal prosecution, but they are determined to unearth the true facts of the matter at the forthcoming inquest."

The prosecuting authority was not available for comment.

05.11.2010.I've just received this message from John O'Donnel:

From: theodonnells@talktalk.net To: ; Subject: Sad News Unforttunately Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:36:07 +0000 "All, Sorry to be the bearer of sad news but Tom Lamonts wife Beth has just been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus yesterday (a day before her 65th birthday) and they are scanning her today to see if it has spread to her chest and lungs. They will then decide what treatment to give her. Tom has experienced this sort of thing before when his sister Diane fought it for a number of years, until it finally took her. Beth and Tom have been married now for 46 years, so as you are all aware it has had its ups and downs (Toms words, not mine!) Tom sent me an email where he says that both of them are positive and determined to get over this obstacle and you may want to show your support by sending an email to him on tomlamont2005@yahoo.co.uk Could you also deseminate this to other RMP members that I may have missed.....Best Regards, John".

29.10.2010:Conduct Unbecoming-read this article:See CLICK HERE

30.08.2010:

05.08.2010:Bill Jordan sent me a picture he took of the entrance to the former Roussillon Barracks yesterday. There was a sign which announced proposed development of 252 homes on the site.

See Click here.

03.08.2008:Chris Corbett sent me this article regarding former RMP Eric Elliott:

CLICK HERE

Cpl.Darren Lynch stops RMP Computer 'conflicker worm' Virus Crash saving MOD millions!

CLICK HERE

27.07.2010:Message from Don Hulme.

"Ian, Greetings from the newly formed Isle of Man Branch of the Royal Military Police Association. There are only sixteen of us here on the Isle of Man but we have been granted permission to form our own Association and this was done in November 2009. One of our members has donated a Standard and this is being Dedicated at the Royal Chapel, St Johns Isle of Man on the 4th September. Mike Seabourne the Vice Chairman of the RMPA is attending. Amongst our guests we have one Major General, a Brigadier, three Majors and representatives from SAFFA, the Royal Airforce and other associations on the Island. Because we are small in numbers we are attempting to attract former members of the RAF Police, Royal Naval Regulators Branch, Royal Marine Police and Ministry of Defence Police as associated members.

I have tried my best to ensure that all our members are represented on your web-site.

Don Hulme".

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

15.07.2010:Message from Geoff Harland:

Hi All, Below is an extract from a recent email I received which I thought might be of interest to anyone like myself who was ever stationed at Rheindahlen Garrison.

Some may not be aware that Rheindahlen Garrison is soon to be no more and will be closed within 3 years. The now multi-national HQ has already dispersed and the camp is emptying fast.

Pro & SIB will re-locate to Münster and the Criminal & Traffic Offences Branch, formerly the Police Advisory Branch, will go to Herford.

The PX and the Marley Club close soon and the NAAFI has halved in size.

Many shops have already given up trying to survive. Balls of tumbleweed will soon be blowing through the streets and doors swinging on rusty hinges. There are few sights worse than a dead or dying barracks.

Anyone want to buy a housing estate with 20 shops, 3 churches, 5 sports fields, 7 schools, pubs, clubs, stables, a cinema & swimming pool? Oh, and a very, very, Big House!

04.07.2010:BILL SHAW has been released from an Afghani prison through lack of evidence on corruption charges.See also "CURRENT PETITIONS" segment.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................,,,,,,

09.07.2010:Hi everyone, Col. Baber has asked that I forward this to you all. Regards, Charmaine. Subject: 'Men In Scarlet'. Today is the start of the publicity for the CD - Men In Scarlet. Two of the men taking part are ex RMP, namely Michael Allen & Tom Fox. Please visit our website to read all about it. The CD is released on 8 Nov.2010. All Royalties we receive we are donating to the Chelsea Pensioners Appeal to be used to upgrade our living accommodation. Web site is: www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/men-in-scarlet Also appearing with us are: Kathrine Jenkins, The Soldiers & Janey Cutler from 'Britain's Got Talent'. Enjoy! Michael.