Welcome to the Burgess Hill Branch of The Royal British Legion
About The Royal British Legion
The Poppy Appeal
The Two Minutes Silence - 11.11.11
War Memorial Research - Are you able to provide information?
The Names of Burgess Hill's Fallen 1914 to 1982
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Burgess Hill's Battle of Britain Pilot - Philip Norris
Gunner APLIN and Major GAYE
Operations, Service and Casualties
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Isn't the Legion for old people from World War Two?
Our Forces are currently serving in some of the most dangerous spots in the world. These include Afghanistan, Sierra Leonne, East Timor, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Rwanda and Macedonia.
They continue to patrol the seas of the world protecting shipping and intercepting drug traffic as well as flying air sea rescue missions and flying aid to many countries around world.
They can be seen keeping the peace, working on humanitarian programmes and operations, mine clearance work as well as garrison duties.
Other locations British forces are serving in include Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Canada, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Poland. |
Wars and Operations in Peace Time
Northern Ireland 1969 - present
All three arms of the British Forces serve in Northern Ireland. The majority of casualties are from the Army but the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have suffered fatalities.
Many killings and woundings have also taken place on mainland Britain through Irish Terrorism including those at Hyde Park, Deal Barracks and shootings inside family quarters in Germany. During this time servicemen and women have been victims of sniper and bomb attacks, ambushes, booby traps, petrol bombs and kidnapping and have had 719 killed
The Falklands War 1982
British land, sea and air forces liberated the Falkland Islands from Argentine invasion in 1982. Some 44 warships, 25 Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and 45 merchant ships were in the war zone. A large number of RAF and Fleet Air Arm Squadrons defended the fleet and supported the ground war. Ground Forces included large numbers of troops from many regiments and specialist arms and detachments. During the battles on and around the Island 255 British men and women lost their lives. 777 were wounded ranging from terrible burns and amputations to minor skin wounds.
Cold War 1945-1994 British Army of the Rhine
The British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was a major element of NATO's defence of the West. Constantly exercised to full readiness it carried out large-scale manoeuvres & numbered up to 60,000 personnel. Whilst never "at war" BAOR suffered many terrorist attacks and had large numbers killed & injured through the necessary training to maintain efficiency.
The Gulf War 1991
During the operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi Forces some 50,000 British personnel were engaged. They suffered 47 casualties (including 9 through "friendly fire") with 15 men being held as Prisoners of War. Conditions were far from pleasant with sand and heat making physical exertion very difficult. Nights were extremely cold. The images of the War today are one of an "arcade game" with fire & forget missiles. In fact ground forces engaged each other in tough tank and infantry battles with hand to hand fighting. Since the war up to 4000 have been diagnosed with health problems that may be attributable to service in the Gulf War.
The Balkans 1991 to present
(Kosovo, Bosnia and Macedonia)
Since 1991 our forces have been keeping the peace in this troubled region. Much of the work involves patrolling areas with mixed ethnic groups and helping the lives of minorities to carry on in as normal fashion as possible.
Work has also included the dreadful task of uncovering mass (and singular) graves from the many atrocities carried out during the civil wars. Our Forces have also been involved in riot control, re-building infrastructure and arms collections.
They have suffered 48 fatal casualties and numerous injuries.
Aden 1964-1967
Aden was a British Protectorate and it was planned to leave by 1968, handing over to Federation. Others though wanted to form a socialist republic and in 1964 the NLF & FLOSY terrorist groups started their war against British troops and civilians (including a grenade attack on a RAF children's party). When hostilities finished in 1967 British troops had lost 68 men killed and large numbers had been wounded.
Korea 1950-53
The war in Korea was fought under United Nations Command led by American forces. Britain committed many ships, planes and men to this war with a large majority being National Servicemen (conscripts). The climate ranged from hot and humid to freezing conditions with heavy and prolonged snowfalls. They fought many hard and bitter battles including those at Hill 282, Imjin River and Gloster Hill. British Forces suffered 765 killed and many thousands wounded. Korea has in many ways become a "forgotten war" but for those who served and lost friends there it will never be forgotten.
Cyprus 1955-59
Many people may be surprised to learn of this conflict, as it is a familiar and friendly destination for holidaymakers.
The conflict was one between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots with British forces keeping the peace.
Over 105 (although it is believed to be over 160 - the MOD seems unable to confirm or deny this) were killed during this period. Cyprus is still dangerous with riots taking place this year against British forces and one serviceman being shot dead in 2000.
Malaya 1948 to 1968
The Malayan Emergency began in 1948 with terrorist attacks by communist guerrillas on European settlers. Their aim was to remove the government and British protectorate by terrorising and murdering Malay, Indian, Chinese & Europeans civilians as well as British (including Gurkha & Malay) Armed Forces. Fighting in humid dense jungle British troops lost 340 killed and many hundreds wounded before the fighting ended in 1968.
Few of the casualties mentioned on these pages appear on their town or village War Memorial's.
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Peacekeeping Duties - Some of the operations since 1968
Bermuda 1968 Riot dispersal
Antigua 1968-69 Civil unrest
Pakistan 1971 Refugee evacuation
Egypt 1973 UN Peacekeeping support
Lebanon 1978 UN Operation (supporting Fijian troops)
Iran 1979 Evacuation of civilians
Rhodesia 1979-80 Disarming fighting factions
New Hebrides 1980 Civil unrest
Lebanon 1983 Peacekeeping
Aden 1983 Evacuation of British Nationals (civil war)
Gulf 1987-88 Mine sweeping / clearance
Kurdistan 1991 Kurdish "safe areas"
N Iraq 1991-2001 Northern "No fly" Zone
S Iraq 1991-2001 Southern "No fly" Zone
Bosnia 1992-2001 UN Peacekeeping (post civil war)
Yemen 1994 Evacuation of various embassy staffs
Angola 1995 Peacekeeping (post civil war)
Rwanda 1996 Support for mass grave locating
Congo 1997 Evacuation British nationals (civil unrest)
Congo 1998 Evacuation British nationals (civil war)
Kosovo 1999-2001 NATO Peacekeeping (post civil war)
East Timor 1999 UN Peacekeeping (civil unrest)
Sierra Leone 2000 Peacekeeping
Macedonia 2001 Disarming fighting factions
My thanks to UNITED KINGDOM MOBILE AIR MOVEMENTS SQUADRON (UKMAMS) Website for this information http://www.ukmams-assoc.fsnet.co.uk/Operations.htm
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Some Humanitarian Operations Since 1966
1966 Zambian oil lift (Rhodesian embargo)
1967 Belize (Earthquake)
1968 UK (Torre Canyon disaster)
1969 Turkey (Earthquake)
1970 Romania (Flooding)
1971 Pakistan (Famine)
1972 UK (Scottish Islands food supplies)
1972 Nicaragua (Earthquake)
1973 Nepal (Food and relief supplies)
1973 Algeria (Flooding)
1973 Cambodia (Food relief)
1973 Pakistan (Flooding)
1973 Senegal (Food)
1974-75 Australia (Cyclone)
1975 Angola (evacuation)
1976 Turkey (Earthquake)
1978 UK (Amoco Cadiz)
1979 Jamaica (Flooding)
1984-85 Ethiopia (Famine)
1989 Monserrat (Hurricane)
1993 Guatemala (Refugees)
1994 Rwanda (Medical supplies)
1995 Monserrat/Antigua (Volcano)
1995 Somalia (Relief supplies)
2000 Mozambique (Flooding)
2001 India (Earthquake)
2001 Afghanistan (Food Aid)
My thanks to UNITED KINGDOM MOBILE AIR MOVEMENTS SQUADRON (UKMAMS) Website for this information http://www.ukmams-assoc.fsnet.co.uk/Operations.htm |
Fatal Casualties since 1945
Korea: 765
Northern Ireland: 719 (includes military deaths on UK mainland and Germany attributed to Irish terrorism)
Malaya: 340
The Falklands: 255
Palestine: 233
Cyprus: 105
Aden: 68
Egypt: 54
Balkans: 48
The Gulf: 47
Yangtse River: 46
Oman & Dhofar: 24
Suez: 22
Borneo: 16
Kenya: 12
Sierra Leone: 1
2755
This list does not include those wounded (over 12,000) or those killed on "non-active" service duties, training or through accidents.
Very few of these names appear on War Memorials
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Some Wars and Operations since 1945 our Forces have served in
1945-48 Palestine Disturbances
1945-present West Germany/Unified Germany
1946-47 Egyptian Riots
1946-48 Indian Riots
1948-49 Berlin Airlift
1948-60 Malaya Emergency
1950-53 Korean War
1952-60 Kenya
1955-59 Cyprus
1956 Suez Military Intervention
1963-65 Brunei Emergency
1964-67 Aden and Radfan
1967 Hong Kong "Red Guards" Riots
1969-present Northern Ireland
1969-1976 Dhofar (Oman)
1974 Cyprus Evacuation of Nationals
1974-present Cyprus (United Nations)
1982 The Falkland Islands Conflict
1991-present The Gulf War and "No Fly-Zones"
1992-present Bosnia
1999-present Kosovo
2000-present Sierra Leone
2001 Macedonia
2001 Afghanistan |
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