4th Mechanized Brigade remembers its fallen
Hundreds of personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade gathered in York Minster today, 2 May, for a service of remembrance and thanksgiving.
![The service of remembrance and thanksgiving at York Minster for 4th Mechanized Brigade [Picture: Corporal Mike O'Neill RLC, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a61e5b4e5274a0a2048a46f/s300_4MechBde-2013-066-216g.jpg)
The service of remembrance and thanksgiving at York Minster
Tragically, the brigade suffered 9 fatalities whilst deployed to Helmand province in Afghanistan from October 2012 to April 2013.
4th Mechanized Brigade, which has its headquarters in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, worked alongside other nations in Afghanistan to change the way security is provided in Helmand. The Afghan National Security Forces are now taking the lead, with international forces having moved into a supporting role.
The Afghan people can now see that they are protected by their own security forces and, importantly, the insurgents can also see this critical development.
At York Minster, the troops were joined by the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, and the Armed Forces Minister, Andrew Robathan, as they paid their respects to the Service personnel that were injured or killed on active service in Afghanistan.
Soldiers from 4th Mechanized Brigade at the service in York Minster [Picture: Corporal Mike O'Neill RLC, Crown copyright]
Brigadier Bob Bruce, who led the Task Force during the deployment, said:
This is a very special day for those of us who were deployed to Afghanistan over the last 6 months.
The professionalism and bravery of the soldiers and marines of 4th Mechanized Brigade has been both astonishing and humbling. They achieved a huge amount during our tour of duty and I am enormously proud of them.
It is important for us now to remember our fallen and the wounded as well as to mark our achievements. It is a great privilege for us to be able to do that in the magnificent York Minster.
Family members of the fallen were also in attendance to honour the life and service of their loved ones. They heard their names read out as York Minster’s Great Peter bell tolled.
The Archbishop of York said:
Our Armed Forces are the bravest of the brave and it is a great honour to be able to welcome them home today. Too often we forget the important peacekeeping role our forces play on the international stage – they have an incredibly tough job, but never flinch from doing their duty.
I pray every day for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces in my chapel at Bishopthorpe. We should never forget their sacrifice. It is because of their courage and diligence that our freedoms in this country are protected.
The service of remembrance and thanksgiving at York Minster for 4th Mechanized Brigade [Picture: Corporal Mike O'Neill RLC, Crown copyright]
Military representatives from the US, Danish and Estonian armies attended the service, which was led by the Precentor of York Minster, the Reverend Canon Peter Moger, with the assistance of military clergy.
The preacher was the Chaplain General to Her Majesty’s Land Forces, the Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, and the blessing was given by the Archbishop of York.
Andrew Robathan said:
It has been an honour and a privilege to join 4th Mechanized Brigade at this service, to pay tribute to their immense contribution to the mission in Afghanistan and, in particular, to remember those who have suffered serious injury or were tragically killed.
We owe these men and women a huge debt for the outstanding contribution they have made to safeguarding the security of Afghanistan, and indeed the UK, and we should all be proud of them.
The brigade has now returned home to its base in Catterick Garrison and, following some leave, personnel will return to their normal duties.