UN medals for TA peacekeepers

Published on Saturday 4 April 2009 19:57

MORE than 250 territorial army soldiers were honoured yesterday after arriving home from a tour of duty in Cyprus.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy was among the dignitaries who met members of the 32 signal regiment group in Glasgow this morning.

The soldiers received United Nations medals at a ceremony in George Square after their pioneering peacekeeping mission on the island.

"It was an honour to meet with the brave men and women of the 32 signal regiment group," Murphy said yesterday.

"The purpose of today's event was to both celebrate the regiment's safe return to Scotland and to give us all the opportunity to display our deep gratitude for the dedication and professionalism of the Territorial Army."

The tour marked the first time an entire TA regiment has been deployed on a peacekeeping mission in its 100-year history.

The regiment undertook guard duties in the "buffer zone" that divides the Turkish Cypriots in the north and the Greek Cypriots in the south since the UN intervened in 1974 following years of unrest.

The soldiers were reunited with their family and friends after the medals parade today.

They later attended a civic reception in the City Chambers hosted by the city's Deputy Lord Provost Allan Stewart.

He said: "The people of Glasgow owe these men and women our deepest respect and gratitude for their bravery and patriotism."

Lieutenant Colonel Huw Jenkins, commanding officer of the regiment, said that TA officers and soldiers can be "just as effective" as regulars if sufficiently trained.

"Cyprus is known as a holiday island but for the regiment this has not been a holiday," he added. "There is still an underlying tension between the two sides and we had to maintain the peace and promote stability."

The regiment is based in Glasgow.