…………will exercise their Freedom to March through Mansfield on 17th March., having recently returned from Afghanistan. The march will start from the bottom of Church Street at 2.30pm and the Executive Mayor will take the salute at the bottom of Regent Street, shortly after 2.30.

Do try to get into town for this momentous occasion and show our boys your support.

……..Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.

The soldiers fighting in Afghanistan are daily dying at the hands of the enemy; this is a tragic waste of life, but each one has made the ultimate sacrifice because he believes in what he is doing. We are asked by the charity Support our Soldiers to send gifts to show our support for the difficult job they are doing. Whether or not you support the ethos of the War in Afghanistan, please try to send a gift.

Thank you.

………a time for remembering all those who have fallen in war. The numbers of the dead keep mounting up and with the hell that is Helmand Province, an end to this conflict is a long way off. The Brigadier in control of troups in Afghanistan has asked that the British public get behind the troups who daily face danger and regardless of whether or not we believe in the motives behind the war, we should all give a thought to the brave men and women serving out there.

……..“News that the MOD plans to cut the British Forces Post Office service to Europe has met with a public backlash,” says Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats. “An online 10 Downing Street petition has attracted 14,000 signatures already.”

“By 30 September 2010 the MOD intends to close 12 Forces Post Offices in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. The intention is that future postal support will use international civilian channels. This will net an estimated saving of £1.7m.”

An MOD spokesman said, “The MOD is aware that the withdrawal of BFPO services has significant implications, not only for the personnel stationed in these locations, but for the Postal and Courier staff employed there.

“Work will now begin on ensuring that each location and its people are prepared for a smooth transition, both in terms of postal provision and the career management of those affected.”

Nick concludes, “The loss of this secure network to our service personnel to Europe will be a blow to morale and have unwelcome practical implications.

“This seems to be yet another example of the Government’s lack of commitment to our Armed Forces.”

For more information see:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO/

….if it doesn’t, then it should!

American troops are not to be banned from smoking in war zones, the US Defence Department says.  The decision comes despite a recent study which recommended the US military should be tobacco-free.

Pentagon spokesman, Geoff Morrell, said US troops were already making enough sacrifices in Iraq and Afghanistan. (As are the British.)

He said Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, did not want to add to the stress of the troops by taking away their right to smoke.

If you have the answer as to whether UK Military personnel are allowed to smoke when serving abroad on active duty, do let me know. We all are aware of the health implications of smoking, but I agree with the US Defence Secretary - there are enough stresses for the lads serving in the theatre of war, without adding to it with the withdrawal symptoms associated with giving up smoking.