Irish Swell British Army Ranks

[Minder]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7749793.stm

[GalwayBayBoy]

Thing I don't understand is why don't they just join the Irish army? Seems to be like these are young lads who are out looking for some action rather than peace keeping duties.

The Irish Defence Force - as the name suggests - is a defence force, it's not an army. It's for purely domestic use

Well that's not true for a start.

A friend of mine joined a couple of years ago and he was out in Afghanistan this year with the Royal Irish Regiment. He got his action and I want mine

Well good luck to him. I hope he doesn't get more than he bargained for.

[Hardy]

He got his action and I want mine

How sad.

[Zapatista]

He got his action and I want mine

How sad.

Guilt free murder.

[the colonel]

thought this was very strange also, was going to post it also

[the Deel Rover]

Mayonews
Final resting place 
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 
Westport falls silent as Robert McKibben is laid to rest


Marine colleague recalls 'larger-than-life character' whose 'can-do attitude helped him overcome every test'



THE town of Westport came to a standstill yesterday (Monday), as one of its well-known and much-loved sons was laid to rest. Hundreds of people lined the streets shortly after 2pm as the funeral cortege of Marine Robert McKibben, flanked by his colleagues from the Royal Marines, mournfully made its way towards Aughavale Cemetary – stopping first of all at his family home, less than one kilometre from the graveyard.
Marine McKibben, or Robbie as he was known locally, was killed in action in Afghanistan on Wednesday, November 12, alongside fellow Marine Neil Dunstan. Both men were 32 years old.
Robbie's body was flown into Ireland West Airport Knock and transferred to his family home at Carnalurgan on Saturday afternoon, where following a wake he was brought to St Mary's Church in Westport at 7pm on Sunday evening. Despite the bitter cold, huge crowds lined the streets of the town and flowed in behind the hearse, before six uniformed Marines carried his coffin – draped in a Royal Marines flag and with his cap and belt atop – into the church.
With barely room to stand in the church, Fr Denis Carney welcomed the congregation, and, quoting from scripture, told them that 'no greater love can anyone give than to lay down one's life for one's friends'. "Robbie worked for the greater good of humankind and the greatest good of all – peace," he said, adding: "He paid the ultimate price for this and has made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of the entire world."
During Robbie's Funeral Mass on Monday the church was again packed to capacity as his family, friends and rank and file colleagues from the Marines, along with members of the Irish armed forces, listened to his uncle, Fr Terry O'Malley, tell the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
"In this story two young people are trying to accommodate the sudden and shocking death of their beloved lord. We too are in a similar position with the tragic death of Robbie. Why, oh why, is a question that goes through so many of our hearts and minds," he said.
"We are here this day to recognise and honour the life and sacrifice of Marine Robert McKibben and his family greatly appreciate your presence, your prayer and your comradeship," he added. "Marine Robert McKibben, we salute your life, your service and your sacrifice. We hear reports that you were deemed worthy to enter an even more elite section of your service. We, all your comrades in faith, rejoice that you are for eternity in the service of the almighty," he concluded.
A native of Westport now based in San Francisco, Fr O'Malley was joined in celebrating the Mass by his brother Fr Brendan O'Malley, Fr Denis Carney, Chaplain to the Royal Marines Fr Michael Sharkey, and also by Fr Paddy Gill, Fr Willie Spicer Fr Vincent Kelly and Church of England Minister, Reverend Albert Hempenstal – a former Chaplain to the Royal Marines.
Before the final prayers, Warrant Officer Thomas Roberts of the Royal Marines delivered – to applause – a eulogy on Robbie based on his time in the Marines, on behalf of his many friends in the Marines.
"Marine Robert McKibben was a larger-than-life character, with an easy smile and quick wit," he said. "He was an immensely capable man, yet his humility made him an example and inspiration to all he served with. A true Commando; tough, unassuming and hugely convivial, he viewed life as a glass half-full and had an indomitable sense of humour in the face of any adversity. Regardless of the task or conditions his can-do attitude helped him overcome every test he encountered. Marine McKibben was a key personality within our tight-knit unit of professional specialists; he was held dear by his colleagues and leaves a great void with his passing."
He added that Robbe was a large, friendly and robust Irishman who always had a smile on his face. "He proved time and time again that he was a strong field soldier under the most demanding of conditions and was passionate about his job. Throughout the many hardships presented to him during his career in the Royal Marines he maintained an enviable relaxed attitude to life and conducted himself with great humility. His enthusiasm to achieve the best that he could was infectious and he could always be relied upon to get any job done. Marine McKibben was one of life's characters who touched many of us in a genuine and understated way."
A huge crowd then followed the cortege through Westport and assembled on the hillside of Aughavale Cemetery, where amid scenes of immense grief, and with the sun shining brilliantly through dark clouds which reflected the mood of all present, six Royal Marines lowered Robbie's coffin to his place of eternal rest, as the lamentful sound of a lone uniformed bugler sounding the last post filled the air.
Robert McKibben is survived by his mother Gráinne, father Tony, sisters Carmel, Maggie and Rachal, brother Raymond, girlfriend Nicola, extended family and a wide circle of friends in Ireland and overseas.


 

[Evil Genius]

Since the end of the Empire, the British Army has continued to attract large numbers of recruits from some of the former colonies. I am not aware of this being especially controversial in any of those countries, the way it is in the Republic.
I'm pleased to see it myself, since not only does it preserve centuries-old traditions, but also because the widest possible recruiting base will lead to the best qualified army, not least in terms of the enormous commitment that these recruits bring.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Beharry

[Zapatista]

Since the end of the Empire, the British Army has continued to attract large numbers of recruits from some of the former colonies. I am not aware of this being especially controversial in any of those countries, the way it is in the Republic.
I'm pleased to see it myself, since not does it preserve centuries-old traditions, but also because the widest possible recruiting base will lead to best qualified army, not least in terms of the enormous commitment that these recruits bring.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Beharry

This from someone who thinks the war in Iraq is illegal? You actually want to arm them even more? Do you think arming criminals with better trained army and giving them a wider catchment area is a good thing?

[AFS]

He got his action and I want mine

How sad.

What a vile thing to say. Basically an admission that his motivation for being a soldier is to have the opportunity to try to kill people. Truly disgusting.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

What are the actual figures?
They keep talking about the numbers going from 3% to 14%, but of what - 100, 1000, 10000. It can be very easy to work figures to suit an agenda.

[Evil Genius]

This from someone who thinks the war in Iraq is illegal? You actually want to arm them even more? Do you think arming criminals with better trained army and giving them a wider catchment area is a good thing?

Just because I think Britain's involvement in Iraq is wrong does not mean that I would criticise individual soldiers who are serving out there. After all, when you enlist, they do not give you a list of wars in which you may or may not choose to serve. Therefore, if you fear that you may be sent to a conflict with which you may not agree, then you should not join up in the first place. It is voluntary, after all.
And as for our continuing involvement, the responsibility for getting the soldiers out still rests with the people who sent them in i.e the politicians.
Meanwhile, whilst we are still out there, I want to see the best calibre of recruit possible conducting what is a dirty, dangerous and difficult job. People like Marine McKibben from Westport, for example.

[Declan]

Letter in today's Indo

A tale of two sons of Westport
Thursday November 27 2008
Your report (Irish Independent, November 25) on the burial of a British Royal Marine shows a great contrast involving two sons of Westport.

One, Major John McBride, fought in the Second Anglo-Boer war for the freedom of a small country being attacked by what was then the world's greatest empire. He again faced the same empire in arms when fighting for his own country's independence. He was executed for his troubles.

The other, Marine Robert McKibben, died serving the remnant of that same empire in an attempt to suppress the independence of an equally valiant people in Afghanistan. I am willing to bet who will be remembered by history.

BRIAN P O CINNEIDE

ESSENWOOD ROAD, DURBAN 4001, SOUTH AFRICA

[Zapatista]

This from someone who thinks the war in Iraq is illegal? You actually want to arm them even more? Do you think arming criminals with better trained army and giving them a wider catchment area is a good thing?

Just because I think Britain's involvement in Iraq is wrong does not mean that I would criticise individual soldiers who are serving out there. After all, when you enlist, they do not give you a list of wars in which you may or may not choose to serve. Therefore, if you fear that you may be sent to a conflict with which you may not agree, then you should not join up in the first place. It is voluntary, after all.
And as for our continuing involvement, the responsibility for getting the soldiers out still rests with the people who sent them in i.e the politicians.
Meanwhile, whilst we are still out there, I want to see the best calibre of recruit possible conducting what is a dirty, dangerous and difficult job. People like Marine McKibben from Westport, for example.

It is clear (and you agree) that the British army get involved and are involved in illegal and morally wrong conflicts. Knowing this do you not think young people should refuse to join in this army and by extension illegal and morally wrong conflict?

You believe Britain's involvement in Iraq is wrong yet you think they should have a better class of killer there conducting that war. How can you justify this?

[thejuice]

Can we rename it to the British and Irish army, like they did with the Rugby team.

Kinda scarey about Private Pyle from Offaly there wanting to become a sniper. Perhaps after years of fun playing Xbox army games he want to try the real thing. When you say you want to be a sniper, it specifically means you want to kill someone or am I looking into it a bit too much. Well at least he's not doing it on the streets I guess.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Can we rename it to the British and Irish army, like they did with the Rugby team.

Kinda scarey about Private Pyle from Offaly there wanting to become a sniper. Perhaps after years of fun playing Xbox army games he want to try the real thing. When you say you want to be a sniper, it specifically means you want to kill someone or am I looking into it a bit too much. Well at least he's not doing it on the streets I guess.

Too much Call of Duty 4.