Basra tour soldiers want Birmingham to stage homecoming parade

Mar 16 2009 By Paul Bradley in Basra

MIDLAND soldiers serving in Basra today made a plea for a homecoming parade in Birmingham.

They made the call after a homecoming parade planned for Belfast had to be been scrapped because it would pose too great a security risk.

The Queen’s Royal Hussars had hoped to march through Belfast in front of thousands of their friends and families.

But the regiment, who predominantly recruit from the West Midlands and Northern Ireland, have been told the parade has been scrapped amid fears it could ignite further troubles in the region.

The Queen’s Royal Hussars, who are mentoring the Iraqi Security Forces ahead of their departure, will be some of the last British troops to leave Basra this spring.

It is their third tour of duty since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Lieutenant Justin Kennedy-Lunde, said: “We were hopeful of having a homecoming parade in Belfast after our return later this year. But the emails I have seen indicate that this is now highly unlikely.

“The Royal Irish regiment encountered problems and counter-protests when they held a homecoming parade. Put that with recent events in Northern Ireland and the idea is no longer an option.”

Nine days ago, Sapper Mark Quinsey, aged 23, from Highters Heath, was one of two soldiers shot dead by terrorists as he picked up a pizza delivery from outside Massereene Barracks, in Antrim.