Army celebrations to mark 100 years of volunteer efforts (From The Northern Echo)

Army celebrations to mark 100 years of volunteer efforts

8:29am Tuesday 1st April 2008

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Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army. Events will take place all over the country, with many held in the North to recognise the sacrifices the people in the region have made. Gavin Havery reports

THE British Army has depended on volunteers for hundreds of years.

Centuries ago, commanders also bolstered their ranks with mercenaries and conscripts.

Controversy still rages over the role played by the King's German Legion, made up of professional soldiers, in Wellington's Army in 1815. The legion valiantly held the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, the tactical key to the British position during the battle of Waterloo.

Waterloo neatly encapsulates the problem of hired help.

The only Hanoverian cavalry regiment present on the field of battle, when summoned to take up a position during the action, refused to advance.

Worse, they turned tail and fled, leaving the British to fight alongside their Dutch and Prussian allies.

After this potential debacle, British generals knew they needed to formalise the recruitment of part-time troops they could rely on.

Although many Yeomanry units had a distinguished record in battle, they were formed from gentleman farmers and tenants. An established part-time army was required.

In 1907, Parliament passed legislation that resulted in the consolidation of the yeomanry and volunteers into the Territorial Force. The first units were stood up on April 1, 1908.

Over the years, the TA has had a reputation as a weekend hobby for people who like firing guns, wearing combat fatigues and driving tanks. But soldiers see active conflict.

Increasingly, many risk their lives and spend months away from their loved ones. With the military stretched to its limit on For a video report, log on to northern echo.co.uk Videoonline two fronts, the TA plays a crucial part in plugging the capability gaps in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Training for war scenarios takes place at locations across the North.

Lieutenant Phil Dunn, from Sunderland, is studying at Newcastle University. He hopes to become a lawyer and his service with the TA is helping to pay for his studies.

He said: "I am a student during the week, so I am quite often shut away in the library, but being in the infantry means I get to go away to do training.

"It is quite demanding and we are often in the wilds of Catterick or Otterburn.

"It is fantastically different from what I do during the week.

"When the weekend is over, I really feel as though I have achieved something. I have a fantastic bond with the people I train with because of the work we do together."

The Territorials' first big test was the First World War, when members were recognised for their bravery. By the end of the conflict, there were more than 700 battalions.

The Territorial Force was restructured in 1920 and renamed the Territorial Army.

After the Second World War, changes were made to create the committed volunteer reserve service that exists today.

In almost every major operation since, TA soldiers have operated alongside their regular counterparts.

Corporal Colin Futers, from Spennymoor, County Durham, said: "You get commitment, travel and friendship out of being in the TA.

"It is a different life, a world away from your everyday life.

You get to go abroad to places like Cyprus, Gibraltar and Canada, which is most enjoyable. I love it.

"It offers people so much. It is not just the fighting - there are skills and trades that people can learn as well."

The North-East is home to the largest brigade in the country, 15(NE) Brigade. There are 35,000 regular TA, Ministry of Defence employees and cadets in the region.

To mark the centenary, events have been scheduled to take place across the region.

On Thursday, tanks will travel from the TA base in Barrack Road, Newcastle, to the Quayside, where they will be met by civic dignitaries.

On the same day in Durham, local soldiers will take part in a tug-of-war against university students.

Also on Thursday, soldiers will climb the height of Ben Nevis using a climbing wall in Sunderland, while in Middlesbrough, there will be a band parade through the town centre.

On May 10, there will be a recruitment event on Newcastle Quayside, with bands playing on the Millennium Bridge. On September 6, there will be military music at the Durham Tattoo.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Parker said: "The Durham Tattoo in September will be an event around Durham Castle, and will be a demonstration of what people have done over the past few years in terms of TA soldiering."

Details of further events will be published in The Northern Echo.

* The TA's website is at army.

mod.uk/unitsandorgs/ta/index.

htm

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