Iraq soldiers hopeful of Birmingham homecoming parade
Dressed in desert fatigues, he was murdered by Real IRA terrorists just hours before he was due to fly to Afghanistan with his regiment.
Warrant Officer 2, Mike Malin, aged 38, a father of two from Woodgate Valley, said: “You expect to be in harms way when you are on the streets of Afghanistan or Iraq but you do not expect to be a target in the supposedly peaceful region of Northern Ireland.
“Belfast looks like Birmingham in many ways, and it was always weird to be on armed patrols in a city that looked a lot like home.
“The last thing we want is a return to the bad old days.”
It is now possible that the only homecoming parade the Queens Royal Hussars will have is in Paderborn, Germany, where they were stationed before their deployment to Iraq.
But soldiers from the regiment believe it would be fitting to hold the ceremony in Birmingham.
WO 2 Malin added: “It makes a huge difference out here to have the support of folk back at home. It makes the guys realise that we are doing something worthwhile. There are lots of guys in the regiment who have Irish surnames but are actually from the West Midlands.
“We would love to have a homecoming parade in Birmingham. I think there is generally a feeling akin to the 1940s where people realised their boys were out there doing it for them.
“More and more people are recognising that we are making the ultimate sacrifice on a regular basis. The last time we had a parade in Birmingham it nearly brought a tear to my eye, and that’s coming from a rough and tough soldier.
“But it really is that significant and a really proud day for all of us.”
