Members of Territorial Army turn out for service and colourful parade on birthday
Part-time soldiers mark century of service to their country
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Soldiers in the Territorial Army celebrated a century of military service yesterday.
About 900 soldiers attended a thanksgiving service and then took part in a colourful parade to a formal reception.
Many of the TA members past and present who took part had seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Private Luke Cole, who has just been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.
The event in London was one of a number of 100th birthday celebrations going on throughout the year.
About 2,000 people attended the national service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The soldiers then marched along Cannon Street for the salute before heading off to their final destination for the reception – the Guildhall.
Pte Cole, who is still being treated for injuries sustained in Afghanistan last September, attended the service and reception.
The 22-year-old from Wolverhampton is only the third person in the TA to be awarded the honour in the past 15 years.
The forklift truck engineer has served with the 4th Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, for the last five years.
Pte Cole, who also served in Iraq in 2005, was shot in the leg on September 8.
He then left his cover to help his friend, Sam Cooper, who had suffered a head wound. While giving him first aid, Pte Cole was shot again.
The private, who spent three months in hospital before continuing his treatment at Headley Court, Surrey, and requires a further two operations, said yesterday: “I was only doing my job.”
There are now almost 700 TA personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 15,000 have served in the two countries since 2003.
The TA represents a quarter of the strength of the Army and its members – both male and female – train as soldiers in their own time, with many also holding down full-time civilian jobs.
