Third Battalion, The RIFLES and the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon
3 Rifles on station in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Photo: British Army
This year’s 3 RIFLES team consists of 20 Riflemen and includes 4 recovering soldiers. 3 RIFLES last tour of duty, September 2009 - April 2010, was to the troubled town of Sangin DC in the Helmand Valley, Southern Afghanistan. The majority of the team who will take part in this year’s MCM deployed on the last tour and will return to Afghanistan in March 2012.
The team are raising funds for their Regimental Charity, Care for Casualties. This fund is ring-fenced to enable the Rifles Regiment to provide for the welfare and support of casualties sustained during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. Whilst in the
USA, the 3 RIFLES team are proud to raise funds for their wounded American comrades via Azalea Charities.
You may make a donation in support here: http://www.active.com/donate/TeamAzalea2011/RIFLES
Captain Harry Harrison (3 RIFLES Team Captain)
Harry is 40 years old and started his military career as a Junior Leader at the Light Division Depot in June 1988. In June 2010, after 21 years’ service in the ranks, he commissioned as a Late Entry Officer into The RIFLES.
He has previously completed numerous Marathons and endurance races and enjoys athletics and cross country running.
Operationally Harry has completed numerous tours of duty; 6 in Northern Ireland, 2 in Iraq, 1 in Sierra Leone and more recently a tour of Afghanistan as the Regimental Serjeant Major of 3 RIFLES in Sangin, Helmand province.
Lieutenant Matthew Bartlett
(right)
Matthew Bartlett is a platoon commander in 3rd Battalion The RIFLES. Matt was educated at The Judd School in Kent before reading History and Ancient History at the University of Exeter.
He commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in April 2010, just as 3 RIFLES were returning from Op Herrick 11. Matt enjoys playing rugby for the battalion and is an avid skier.
Warrant Officer Second Class (WO2) CSM Geoff Thomas
Geoff joined the British Army in July 1989. he has served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and the Falkland Islands.
Geoff is a keen sportsman and enjoys cross country running, weight training and mountain biking.
He has recently completed a number of endurance events which include the Copenhagen Marathon, the Alpine challenge in Bavaria and a 65 mile march across France and Holland.
3 RIFLES 2011 US Marine Corps Marathon Team Members
Back Row L- R: Rfn Neville, Rfn Kotze, Capt Harrison, Cpl Macintosh, Rfn Williams.
Front Row L-R: Rfn Leonard, Rfn Kenyon, Rfn Dumaurier, LCpl Duffy, Rfn Pawson
Lance Corporal Matthew Duffy (pictured right)
Born in Newton Aycliffe on 14 November 1986, Matthew Duffy went to Longfield Comprehensive School before joining the 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry (now The RIFLES) in 2004. He has completed tours of Northern Ireland and Iraq, and most recently he was on Operation Herrick 11 in Afghanistan.
From October 2009 to April 2010 he was based in Sangin with A Coy, 3 RIFLES, and served as Section Commander with 3 Platoon at Forward Operating Base Nolay. He is currently based with 3 RIFLES in Edinburgh and serves alongside his brother who was injured whilst serving in Afghanistan. He is an excellent sportsman who has represented his battalion in numerous sports, including Nordic skiing. He completed the Marine Corps Marathon with 3 RIFLES in 2010.
Cpl Macintosh (pictured above, right)
Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on 01 June 1977, Cpl Macintosh went to West Denton High School before joining the 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry (now The RIFLES) in 1995. He has completed tours of Bosnia (twice), Northern Ireland (twice), Kosovo and Sierra Leone. Most recently he was on Operation Herrick 11 in Afghanistan. From October 2009 to April 2010 he was based in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan. He is currently based with 3 Rifles in Edinburgh, he is a keen footballer and cross country runner.
Some Injured Riflemen Taking Part in the 2011 MCM:
L-R LCpl Ricky Hatton, Riflemen Alex Swinhoe and Rfn Matt Fisher (not taking part)
LCpl Hatton, Riflemen Swinhoe and Parkes were all injured during 3 RIFLES last tour of duty in Afghanistan, Sept 2009- Apr 2010. LCpl Hatton Rifleman Swinhoe and Fisher were all injured by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or in fire fights whilst on patrol in Sangin District Centre, Helmand Province.
In addition to their own individual recovery programmes which include bespoke rehabilitation sessions, the team will be training hard and intend to enter the 2011 Great North Run, the World’s largest half-marathon, as part of their preparation for the 2011 MCM.
Rifleman Alexander Swinhoe (pictured left, centre)
Born in Sunderland on 2 December 1990, Alexander Swinhoe went to Thornhill Comprehensive School before joining the 3rd Battalion, The RIFLES, in 2008. He was on Operation Herrick 11 in Afghanistan from October 2009 to April 2010. Based in Sangin with A Coy, 3 RIFLES, he served as a Rifleman with 2 Platoon at Patrol Base Almas. He was injured in combat on 21 December 2009 and evacuated to the UK for treatment. He suffered injuries to his right arm and lost his left leg below the knee. After treatment at Selly Oak Hospital he moved to Headley Court to begin his rehabilitation. In May 2010 he attended the 3 RIFLES medals parade at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, where he was presented with his Afghanistan service medal alongside his comrades. He is an enthusiastic rock climber and enjoys football and rugby. He will be completing the Marine Corps Marathon in his wheelchair.
Rifleman Chris Parkes
Chris is 23 years old and from County Durham; England. Chris joined the RIFLES in 2007 and deployed on his first tour of duty to Afghanistan in 2009. Chris was injured by an IED strike during his tour of duty and is now a single amputee. Chris enjoys taking part in charity events that raise awareness and funds for service charities and has a keen interest in skydiving, cycling and all other outdoor activities.
http://www.active.com/donate/TeamAzalea2011/RIFLES
Read also of Matt Fisher's involvement in the 2011 New York Marathon.
A British Army team from the 3 RIFLES took part in the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon.
From October 2009 to April 2010 3 RIFLES were deployed to Sangin in the Helmand Valley in Southern Afghanistan. The 3 RIFLES Battlegroup lost 30 soldiers in action and sustained over 100 casualties, but the sacrifice was not in vain. The security they provided in partnership with Afghan forces allowed the Sangin Bazaar to flourish, major transport links to reopen and the local government to begin to assert its authority in the face of the Taliban.
The 3 RIFLES team after arrival in Washington DC, with the George Washington Monument in the background
Team members:
Captain Paul Boxall, Sergeant Ian Lamming, Lance Corporal Matthew Duffy, Rifleman Michael Swain, Rifleman Galandu Goode, Rifleman Damien Hines, Rifleman Robert Wright, Rifleman Kyle Baker, Rifleman Alexander Swinhoe, Rifleman Jake Clark
The team of 11 were all deployed with 3 Rifles and includes 4 recovering casualties who undertook the marathon in their wheelchairs. Rifleman Michael Swain, Rifleman Robert Wright and Rifleman Alex Swinhoe were all injured by improvised explosive devices. Rifleman Kyle Baker was injured in a firefight. All have been undergoing rehabilitation and are using their marathon training to assist their recovery.
3 RIFLES and Sgt. Eddie Ryan USMC at the MCM Expo, October 29, 2010
The RIFLES Marine Corps Marathon team with Stephen Cain MBE, President and CEO of the Allied Forces Foundation, Inc. Photo courtesy of Rifleman Matt Fisher
In addition to the casualties’ rehabilitation programmes, the team have been training hard and in September took part in the Great North Run, the World’s largest half-marathon, as part of their preparation. The team are raising funds to support the ongoing rehabilitation of casualties from the five RIFLES battalions from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
They always strive to live up to their regimental motto: Swift and Bold!
Team members on the course during the 35th Marine Corps Marathon, October 31, 2010. Photo: Matt Fisher
See news of the team's recent participation in the 2010 Great North Run in our Press section.
Please help to Carry these Comrades. It is never too late to honor their courage, and we look forward to welcoming them again in 2011.
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The RIFLES - http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/3469.aspx |