End of Week Quote

The End of Week Quote is a Speech given by Major General John Sutherell at the medal parade for the Royal Anglians on Thursady.

There is no doubt that the tour you have just completed is the most demanding operational tour experienced by any Royal Anglian Regiment since its formation in 1964. For those involved this will live forever in the memory.

In spite of the heat and privations you have taken on a hard and fanatical enemy on their own grounds and driven them back. The fighting has been remorseless in its intensity and often at very close quarters.You have shown courage, endurance and professional skill and comradeship of a very high order.

But you have also shown the intelligence, restraint and humanity to discern between those who have been trying to kill you and the people we are in Afghanistan to help.

As a result you have made a very important contribution to a campaign that is strategically hugely important to the UK, its allies and all the countries in that region.

This considerable success has come at a cost. We are all mindful of the nine who died and so many of you who have suffered the pain of wounding, including the unseen wounds that are so hard to bear.

But the families that stayed at home, separated from their loved ones, also deserve a medal. No one who experienced this year shall forget it. This year, our regiment has come of age.

You all have served our country, our regiment, your families and each other magnificently.