Journalist. This is my personal twitter account
London
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- Following 3,513
- Followers 21,638
- Likes 12,886
🇬🇧 DefSec Ben Wallace climbs onto @BritishArmy Challenger 2 tank for photo with #Ukraine soldiers now being trained in U.K. “Crimea that way”:
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Congrats to Capt Rosie Wild of 7RHA. She’s the first woman to pass the gruelling P Company course. Here she is getting her beret after proving she’s nails
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Photo from @hmsdiamond last night night in #RedSea firing at #Houthi drones - just released by 🇬🇧 MOD:
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Royal Navy’s Rhodri Leyshon - who lost his life when his Merlin helicopter ditched n English Channel Wednesday night . His comrades described him as a consummate professional . His family say their lives will never be the same. RIP
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New: A former British Army Major who’s been under repeated investigation FOR 17 years, over the death of an Iraqi teenager has, finally been cleared. Robert Campbell said he was relieved to be exonerated . But angry that it had taken 17 years and destroyed his career
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Breaking: 🇬🇧 Challenger 2 in #Ukraine hit a mine - which immobilised it. Mine explosion caused a fire in rear fuel tank - at which point crew evacuated. Immobilised empty #Challenger2 was then targeted by #Russia Lancet drone - all according to western Def source
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A western defence source confirmed to the BBC the video showed a damaged U.K. supplied Challenger 2 tank in Ukraine. The defence source also confirmed that all the crew survived
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UK DefSec Ben Wallace says Britain is sending more than 120 military logistic vehicles to #Ukraine. Part of package will include dozens of heavy transporters to move armour and artillery over large distances. Says will help Ukraine to rapidly redeploy equipment such as MLRS
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Repatriation of L Cpl Brodie Gillon @RAFBrizeNorton taking place today - @BritishArmy reserve Combat Medical Technician killed in rocket attacks at Camp Taji in #Iraq . She was 26 years old
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Met a lovely couple from Surrey today who lost their only son in Helmand. With recent events in Afghanistan Mum had struggled to understand what for. Says she wrote a letter to @JohnnyMercerUK - not her MP. She says his reply helped her make sense of it. Small acts count
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This was a joy to witness - @DanJarvisMP reuniting with “Joya” - an Afghan Special Forces commander he worked with in Helmand - 14 years ago. “Joya” and his family made it here-many did not. Members of @TheParachuteReg helping him make UK home
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NEW:🇬🇧 is to send its Sky Sabre air defence system to #Poland - at Polish request says @BWallaceMP . 100 U.K. troops will also be sent to operate system for a short deployment of between 3- 6 months . Purely for defensive purposes and to protect Polish skies says MOD
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U.K. DefSec Ben Wallace tells BBC that Britain IS supplying Starstreak anti aircraft missiles to #Ukraine . Last week he told MPs examining the possibility - now says “we are supplying them - they will go into theatre “. Also says U.K. has now sent 4,000 ant tank weapons
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NEW: 🇬🇧 to send another 3 multiple rocket launchers to #Ukraine Ben Wallace tells BBC -“doubling” number of U.K. MLRS/M270s supplied along with “substantial” numbers of missiles Ben Wallace says asked Ukraine to use them wisely - and he says they have
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Last chance to see these iconic aircraft flying over the UK @RoyalAirForce #Tornado
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Confirmed to BBC that a serving SAS soldier “bravely” entered the hotel complex in #NairobiAttack to rescue hostages. Was in the country at the time as part of a training team. Was armed and opened fire on extremists as he went in to save hostages
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Speculation that U.K. will supply Harpoon anti ship missiles to #Ukraine is NOT correct. MOD says its looking at sending more lethal aid to Ukr including anti ship missiles - but won’t yet say what
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🇬🇧 DefSec Ben Wallace says U.K. has bought 20 plus 109 self propelled artillery guns “on the global market” to send to #Ukraine. BBC understands the artillery guns were bought refurbished from a Belgian arms company .
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Reports that a USAF F-15 C has crashed from @RAFLakenheath1 has crashed. Single seater jet was part of a four jet formation . Search and Rescue on scene
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Britain sending helicopters to Ukraine for first time - Ben Wallace - BBC News bbc.com/news/uk-63725431
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Rogue Russian pilot tried to shoot down RAF aircraft in 2022 - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66798508
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In debate on Gov Immigration and borders bill @JohnnyMercerUK says he spoke to #PrinceHarry last night who told him waiving fees for Foreign and Commonwealth personnel who served in U.K. armed forces and wanted to remain was “morally right” and an “effortless change”
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Here’s an interesting stat re @RoyalMarines . They make up just 4% of the total UK Arned forces but contribute about 40% of UK Special Forces. Lean and mean at just over 6,000 strong.
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British Army officer becomes first woman to pass brutal Para course - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51553815
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BREAK - DefSec @BWallaceMP says @RoyalNavy will be resuming its escort of merchant vessels through Strait of Hormuz - with increased tensions with #Iran. @HMS_MONTROSE and @HMSDefender had stopped providing escorts weeks ago but will now resume
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4 @RoyalAirForce Typhoon jets flying from Akrotiri in Cyprus took part in US led strikes on #Houthi targets in #Yemen overnight - using Paveway bombs
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Georgia Sandover is the first woman to successfully complete 20 week course to join @RAF_Regiment . Congratulations #womeninclosecombat
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First full rehearsal for D of E Funeral took place in Pirbright this morning. As well as the 30 members of Royal Family and household attending the funeral there’ll be 730 members of the Armed Forces taking part - from the Duke’s “military family”
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Trooper Kat Dixon says “it’s cool” being among the first women to qualify as a gunner on a Challenger 2. She says the only down side is the “smell” of the men @BritishArmy
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🇬🇧 Armed Forces to receive 6 percent pay rise - new Labour government says largest pay rise for military in 22 years and will help with recruitment and retention
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Stayed up all night to watch the last surviving Tank Landing Craft from D-Day being moved to her new home at Southsea. Unfortunately as with D Day the weather has the final say . Too windy to beach her last night . They”ll try again later this week . But doesn’t she look good
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Thanks to “Ando”,Jack and Doug for letting me ride in their Jackal - feeding me, saving me the embarrassment of putting up an Army cot bed in the dark..and giving me loads of their water! Top lads @LDLightCav #Mali @UN_MINUSMA
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Flying very close to @RoyalAirForce #F35 on first flight across UK.
We were on C130 -ramp down
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What a dog 🐕! BBC News - Medal for hero dog Kuno who saved soldiers' lives in Afghanistan bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53949310
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And here’s BoJo’s and HM the Queen’s plane with its £900k paint job refuelling some @RoyalAirForce Typhoons this pm. Showing it can still do the old job as well as the new:
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A big thank you to @RoyalAirForce and Wing Commander James Heeps for a last ride in the iconic Tornado
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The BBC told that military operation on #NaveAndromeda tanker has been successfully completed. 2 Royal Navy wildcat helicopters and 2 Navy Merlin Mark 4 helicopters and a SBS team .7 individuals detained after they were met by “overwhelming force “ . Crew all safe in citadel
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NEW: MAJ Gen Matt Holmes - former Commandant General of @RoyalMarines has been found dead @AdmTonyRadakin said “I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of Matt Holmes. We mourn the loss of one of our most senior and highly decorated Royal Marines”
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You’d think given what’s going on in Syria - and the fact that dozens of British troops are there in harms way alongside US Forces - we’d have heard strong words from UK DefSec and Senior Officers? Maybe I’ve missed them ?
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U.K. DefSec Wallace confirms sending Squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to @Ukraine BUT also says he will now review @BritishArmy Challenger 3 upgrade numbers . Was mean to be 148 upgraded - now looking at more
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Love the way @BritishArmy have sent this one out - just as Macron touches down. Whoever tweeted was told not to mention Napoleon and France :
#OTD 205 years ago on the field of Waterloo, the armies of the United Kingdom and her European allies brought a peace to Europe which would last almost a century. We celebrate the role played by our forebears and commemorate their sacrifice. #WeWillRememberThem
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Lt Cdr Tremel - US Navy Pilot who shot down #Syria SU20.U can see air2air icons on his jet. Photo from @NavyLookout
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I’ve endured 5 power point presentations in past 24hrs. The military clearly think this is how you should “engage” with the media. Including unintelligible organograms. Just to be clear - it is not.
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Latest batch of U.K. military aid to #Ukraine will include Paveway IV bombs .
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Today I’ve decided I’m going to be 10 times more lethal than I was yesterday …which was twice as lethal as the day before
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Statement from 🇬🇧 On strikes carried out by RAF Typhoons overnight on 2 #Houthi targets in Yemen - linked launch of drones and missiles they say
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Twitter is Twitter ….but it does show a real sense of anger today about the defeat of the @DanJarvisMP @JohnnyMercerUK amendment -to waive visa fees for those from Foreign and Commonwealth nations who choose to come here and serve in our armed forces.
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Zelensky - "I think we have always been grateful to the UK the PM and Wallace. I just don't know what he means. How else should we be thankful? Let him write to me how to thank people so that we are fully grateful. And we can also wake up in the morning and thank the minister…”
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It’s @AdmTonyRadakin_ last day as CDS . I wish him well. He’s an optimist . I’m not . But I still like him. You’d think that at after 35 yrs service to 🇬🇧 they’d let him do some interviews . But none for U.K. media .Shame to treat senior officers this way
Earlier today I returned from my final visit to Kyiv as Chief of the Defence Staff.
Here are my reflections on the work that is underway to support Ukraine in its quest for a just and lasting peace. 🇬🇧🇺🇦
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Actually the Brits
Who makes better Fighter Jet Ejection Seats, the Americans or the Russians? bit.ly/2a5rsJ4
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Photo of @HMSMontrose in the Gulf taking part in the 41 gun salute marking the death of HRH DofE. Montrose was in the Omani port of Duqm
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I have been told Afghan Special Forces - trained by U.K. and US - are among those waiting to airlifted out of #Kabul #Afghanistan
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BBC News - RAF Tornado . “Retch for the Skies”. Stitched up by @_rachaelthorn : bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-4731048…
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IX Squadron - the last team of @RoyalAirForce flight and ground crews to fly #Tornado . Along with 31 Squadron . Tnx for the ride
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RAF Typhoon jets from @RAFLossiemouth intercepted 4 Russian “Bear” bombers flying North of Scotland this am. We’re flying in “U.K. area of interest” but did NOT enter U.K. Airspace. Russian bombers now left and QRA over
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A @RoyalAirForce Typhoon jet has shot down a “small hostile drone” in #Syria - which MOD says posed a threat to coalition forces. First use of air to air missile in Op Shader. Took place 14 Dec over Al Tanf base using ASRAAM missile
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HMS Queen Elizabeth: Life on board Royal Navy aircraft carrier - BBC News - with @TonyNewsCamera bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-5917069…
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BBC News - More Afghan interpreters eligible to settle in UK after rule change bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54208024
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A British soldier has been found dead in Estonia . His body was found this weekend while he was off duty . Next of kin have been informed . He was part of @BritishArmy battle group and from Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. No one else involved . RIP.
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NEW: Armed Forces have been issued guidance against “taking a knee” in support of BLM while in uniform. Guidance was issued at one base HMS Sultan when question was asked. MOD says in line with policy to avoid politics in uniform. MOD statement makes clear opposition to racism .
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Lee Durant
🇬🇧 MOD publishes Inquiry into @RoyalAirForce Recruitment and Selection - which led to resignation of a female Grp Cpt. She told her superiors some initiatives were illegal and discriminated against white men. Inquiry says she was right .New @ChiefofAirStaff has apologised
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Nicely made videos make no substitute for journalism . If any defence reporter was doing this they’d be highlighting the fact that V boat crews now doing regular deployments of nearly 6 months instead of 3 .
“Our nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of our defence”. Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP visited one of the @RoyalNavy’s submarines in Scotland last weekend. He met the ships company to better understand the role submariners play in defending the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
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I’ve not heard from anyone in MOD - in uniform or not- who thinks the exit from #Afghanistan is a good idea
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I once flew in one of these over Syria to track ISIS. Mid flight the radar got stuck and wasn't working properly. The crew kept trying to contact some kind of helpline back in the UK. It was the weekend...and no-one was answering. RIP Sentinel
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Norway spends about 1/6th of what 🇬🇧 spends on defence …and yet it’s ordered more F35s : 🇳🇴 52 🇬🇧 48. It’s already bought Korean K-9 Artillery guns to replace 22 M109s given to #Ukraine ; and has already ordered new Leopard tanks to replace its older one + those 🤚 to Ukr
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I could do without seeing tweets from senior military officers who copy in their bosses and ministers to their virtuous tweets. Tiresome.
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Breaking DefSec Wallace says U.K. is providing a NEW security assistance package to #Ukraine - including light anti armour defensive weapons with trainers . Says short range weapons not long range strategic weapons
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Breaking: Former Major Gen Nick Welch has been sentenced to 21 months in prison at Bulford Military Court after being convicted of falsely claiming £48,000 in allowances for his children’s boarding school fees
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Statement from @DefenceHQ naming Ethan Jones @RoyalMarines recruit who died after training incident last week
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Our report from #Ukraine - Ukrainian forces using recently supplied Western artillery soon become the target . Camera Barnaby Mitchell :
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U.K. Def Sec Ben Wallace says Russia suffering huge losses for no gain in #Ukraine. He quotes latest US estimate of Russia casualties of 220,000
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Update #Kabul - bulk of U.K. 600 troops now at Int Airport. Working with US forces to keep it running with evacuation. RAF flight has taken out most Embassy staff. Still hoping to use commercial options for Nationals BUT RAF transport aircraft also moved to region
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Hearing 5 more @RoyalAirForce F35 now on route from US to UK. If all goes according to plan should land at RAF Marham this evening
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Translation - the chiefs of 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade have had a chat:
A very productive meeting today with Commander @3Cdo_Bde, Brigadier Matt Jackson, discussing how we better exploit the synergies between the nation’s strategic theatre entry formations. Reference capabilities for @DefenceHQ. #globalbritain @RoyalMarines @16AirAssltBde
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A German PzH2000 hidden in a tree line in Eastern #Ukraine . Ukrainian troops say they like the weapon and great for scoot and shoot - but need regular maintenance so need more of them . Dozens of weapons from dozens of countries presents logistics headache says @Jack_Watling
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I hear a civil servant - who tweets and blogs and hides behind anonymity - is criticising a civil servant who blew the whistle , complained about the system, resigned and allowed his name to be published. Quite extraordinary
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Still going ....10 years after UK scrapped em
AV-8B Harriers prepare to land aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) after participating in an exercise with F/A-18E Super Hornets embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). dvidshub.net/image/5382347/1…
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I’m probably not allowed to have favourite Generals. But here’s one of my fav photos (also rare instance when Sky outnumbers BBC) . Wishing Gen Sanders the best for the future
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First of team of around 30 @BritishArmy @TheRangerRegt troops have arrived in Ukraine for "short term" training following the UK delivery of light anti tank weapons. Ranger Reg created last year to operate in "high threat environments". Part of Army Special Ops Brigade
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10 weeks at sea - and an important milestone for @HMSQNLZ achieved . And all done while keeping #Covid at bay and crew safe. My scepticism on that proved wrong:
1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ nautical miles
1️⃣6️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ launches & recoveries
6️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ squadron fully integrated
6️⃣7️⃣ days
1️⃣ #StrikeCarrier
All while protecting the ship against an invisible real enemy, #Covid19.
Time for #TeamQE to come #home.
To our families; #PompeyRevs initiated.
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Spot the off duty @BritishArmy officer checking in at Kuwait City airport. #bethesame (I’m guessing the bag’s borrowed from the Mrs)
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MOD confirm death of @RoyalNavy sailor on @hms_kent 10 July. Part of #CSG21 . Next of kin have been informed . Investigation underway .
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