On 6th April 2003 the First Fusiliers Battlegroup was ordered to take control of the northern half of Basra in Southern Iraq.
This film, told through first hand recollections, follows 9 Platoon Y Company and tells the story of what happened that day, including the tragic loss of Fusilier Kelan Turrington. It includes the emergency response by the medics who were with the battlegroup at the time and the role of the padre on the battlefield.
The First Fusiliers Battlegroup had led the crossing of British forces into Iraq, primarily the Desert Rats 7th Armoured Brigade and had subsequently secured bridges over the Shat al'Basra canal outside the city. In the 2 1/2 weeks leading up to the strike, the battlegroup had conducted patrolling across no man's land and into the city. It had faced numerous counter attacks from Iraqi forces and expected to have to fight to achieve its mission on the 6th April.
The battlegroup comprised:
The First Fusiliers battalion headquarters
X and Y companies First Fusiliers
W (Manoeuvre Support) Company First Fusiliers
B and C squadrons The Queen's Royal Lancers
D Battery Tactical Group 3 RHA
39 Armoured Engineer Squadron Royal Engineers
1st SALT USMC ANGLICO team
Fusilier Kelan John Turrington was a member of 9 platoon. He was killed in a firefight on the 6th April.
Fusilier Turrington was awarded a posthumous Mention in Despatches in the Operational Honours published on 31 October 2003 in recognition of the gallantry he displayed during the assault on an enemy trench that cost him his life.
Contributors include:
David Paterson - The Commanding Officer
Paul Nanson - The Officer Commanding Y Company
Tom Kibble - 9 Platoon Commander Y Company
Steve Edgar - The Regimental Medical Officer
Mike Parker - The Battlegroup Padre
Ed Rutherford - The Manoeuvre Support Section Commander Y Company
This film has been produced by Big Ears Productions / bigearsproductions
Narration was by Charlie Collicutt app.spotlight....
4 окт 2024
