Marlborough’s big day was one of big praise for the unsung heroes of Army intelligence in the battlefields of Afghanistan, the people of Marlborough themselves and the silent families who supported those they feared might not return home.
It came from General Sir Nicholas Houghton, 59-year-old Chief of the Defence Staff since July, after he pinned campaign medals on 37 soldiers of 45 Company, 4 Military Intelligence Battallion marking their operation in Afghanistan.
“You have the pride of the Armed Forces and you have the pride of the people of Marlborough,” he told the Battallion lined up before him. “I congratulate you and we all wish you well for whatever your next challenge might be.”
He started by saying: “Can I say what an absolute pleasure it is to be here in Marlborough this morning, Marlborough in particular because of its special, historical association with the Armed Forces and particularly the Army.”
“Today is about two things, it is about celebrating the service and the safe homecoming of members of 4Battalion who have recently been serving in Afghanistan.
It is also a celebration of the special bond of friendship that exists between Marlborough with the Army as a whole.”
He offered his thanks and congratulations, to the Mayor, the Town Council, to Marlborough College and the people of Marlborough and its businesses “for putting on such a warm and deep — and I think emotional – reception for members of the Battallion.”
And he told the troops: “I think the links that exist at a local level between towns such as Marlborough and units of the Army and Armed Forces are fundamental in helping those units when they deploy operations in the knowledge that they have close association and tremendous support……. the Freedom of this town means so much to the Battallion.
“My thanks also go to the friends and families of those on parade, who are the unsung heroes of operations. They agonise every minute the soldiers, sailors and airmen are away. They live their experiences and then record your experiences in their heart.
“And I know it means a huge amount that their support is here in the homeland when you are away and it is one of the things that inspires you to give the service that you do.”
General Houghton then offered his congratulations to the medal-winning soldiers in his role both as Colonel Commandant and Chief of Defence.
“In many ways the Intelligence Corps and its members are the unsung heroes of operations. Few people stop to analyse what intelligence means n the battlefield today.
“Many would naturally think it is all about choosing the use of force in the most appropriate way. What many people don’t understand is that the work of the Intelligence Corps goes towards saving and protecting the lives of other soldiers and many civilians on operations.
“What you do is hugely well respected and is unparalleled in any other corps or arm of the Army. And I congratulate you on the hugely professional way you do it.”
He said that the campaign medal awarded was just a small proportion of the service given in Afghanistan, those on parade being veterans of two or three tours, at least 280 members of the Battallion having complete at least one tour of Afghanistan as intelligence analysts, as well as savers and protectors of life.
“So I congratulate you wholeheartedly,” he declared, and added: “Finally, and I refer to the people of Marlborough, the Intelligence Corps is honoured by the quality of its thinking and its intellect and not for the quality of its drill.”
Amid amused laughter, he continued: “So we are about to see a march past. But whatever the quality of that drill – and I hope you will be surprised and inspire it – you can march round this town with as much pride as any individual in the Armed Forces.
“You have the pride of the Armed Forces and you have the pride of the people of Marlborough. I congratulate you once again and we all wish you well for whatever your next challenge might be.”
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