The Sandbag Times Issue No: 45

NEWS
THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE
SBT NEWS July Edition info@sandbagtimes.com
Royal Navy intercepts More Russian Warships
The Royal Navy's HMS
Montrose intercepted the
ships after shadowing them
in the North Sea.
This is the latest incident of
Russian vessels entering
Britsh waters as tensions have
risen between Moscow and
the West, Commander Conor
O'Neill, Montrose's
Commanding Officer, said:
"Royal Navy warships are
always prepared to respond to
tasking at short notice, so
when the call came, Montrose
was ready for action. “The
Royal Navy and Royal Air
Force, with the support of our
Hundreds of former paratroopers
have been asked
to give evidence at a highprofile
inquest into a shooting
incident during
Northern Ireland’s Troubles
more than 40 years ago –
despite the Prime Minister
pledging to end the “witchhunt”.
Northern Ireland’s
coroners service has written
to ex-members of the
Parachute Regiment and
the then Queen’s
Regiment about the 11
deaths in Ballymurphy in
August 1971. It has invited
NATO allies, constantly
monitor the seas and skies
around the UK, and our
operations are part of that 24/7
watch to ensure the UK stays
safe and secure.” A statement
from the Royal Navy said:
“HMS Montrose worked
alongside the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency to track
the two vessels as they
manoeuvred in some of the
most congested waters in the
world. “Montrose met the
pair both Steregushchiy-class
corvettes and monitored their
progress off the Danish and
Dutch coasts“After crossing
Ex-Paratroopers Hit By New Witch Hunt
A British army sergeant who
sabotaged his wife’s
parachute, causing her to
plunge 4,000 feet to the
ground after jumping from a
plane, was jailed for life for
trying to murder her. Victoria
Cilliers, 41, suffered severe
injuries to her spine, broke
her leg, collarbone and ribs
and only survived because
she landed in a newly
soldiers to come forward
as witnesses at the inquest
on September 10. The
Belfast coroner has also
written to the Provost
Marshal’s office – the head
of the military police – asking
for any records on the
incident. In 1971, what
was then the Royal Ulster
Constabulary had come
under sustained sniper
attack and senior officers
feared republican leaders
in west Belfast were about
to seal off Ballymurphy and
make it a “no-go area”, as
the bulk of the North Sea, the
corvettes dramatically cut
their speed and slowly
proceeded towards the north
Norfolk coast under the
watchful eyes of the British
frigate at the end of last
week.” Leading Seaman Jack
Shanley said: “I’ve been in the
Royal Navy for four and a half
years and this type of
operation is exactly what I
joined for.” Last month, the
Royal Navy used destroyer
HMS Diamond and a Wildcat
helicopter to monitor a
Russian spy ship close to the
coast of Britain. More here...
Life Sentence For UK Soldier For Wife Parachute Sabotage
ploughed field, a court heard.
Her husband Emile Cilliers,
38, who had denied
attempted murder, will have
to serve at least 18 years in
jail. Winchester Crown
Court heard that, knowing his
wife was planning a skydive,
Cilliers had sabotaged her
parachute in an airfield toilet
cubicle in Netheravon. Lines
to the main canopy were
the IRA had done in
Londonderry’s Bogside.
Soldiers from both regiments
moved into the
republican stronghold on
August 9 and came under
heavy fire as they
launched Operation
Demetrius, a mission that
was planned and directed
by the RUC, now the
Police Service of Northern
Ireland. Over August 9, 10
and 11, a total of 11 people
were killed including a local
priest, Father Hugh Mullan,
40. Read more here...
twisted and parts were
missing from the reserve,
stopping the chute from
opening when she jumped
from the plane in April 2015.
Police said that Cilliers’
motive had been to obtain an
insurance payout on his
wife’s death, which would
have allowed him to start a
new life with his lover. Read
more on this story here...
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