The Countess of Wessex to visit Estonia

Started by Jennifer, March 19, 2017, 09:42:10 PM

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Jennifer

QuoteIt has been announced that the Countess of Wessex will pay a visit to troops from 5th Battalion The Rifles in Estonia. The first vanguard of troops is just heading out there for what will be one of the largest recent deployments of British troops for some time, this is a NATO exercise, and the British troops will be joined by smaller contingents from France, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. On their website, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wilson, Commanding Officer, 5th Battalion The Rifles said: "Our purpose is to reassure the Estonian Government and the Estonian Defence Force of our commitment to the defence of a fellow NATO member."

The exercise is being undertaken with the full co-operation of the Estonian government, and the troops were welcomed when they landed in Estonia by Margus Tsahkna, the Defence Minister. They had flown to the Amari airbase from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. They will be joined by three hundred military vehicles from the UK including Challenger tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, together with tanks from France.

This will not be the first time that the Countess has visited the Battalion outside of England. Last year, she paid a visit to the 5th Battalion as they prepared to leave Alanbrooke Barracks in Paderborn, as reported on Royal Central. The battalion was moved to Bulford in Wiltshire from Paderborn, one of several battalions to be moved back to the United Kingdom from Germany following a restructuring of the Army.


Read more:
The Countess of Wessex to visit Estonia – Royal Central
"You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination". ~ Ralph Marston


Jennifer

QuoteCountess of Wessex visits Estonia to meet troops and children with special needs

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, visited the Tapa Military base which is Estonia's 1st Infantry Brigade on Wednesday. She was in Estonia from 2-3 May. Her Royal Highness serves as the Royal Colonel of 5th Battalion The Rifles. She has visited the battalion on several occasions in Germany, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom.

At the base, she met the British, French, Estonian, and Danish soldiers serving there as part of NATO's "enhanced forward presence" there. She also examined the 1st Infantry Brigade.

Read more:
Countess of Wessex visits Estonia to meet troops and children with special needs – Royal Central
"You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination". ~ Ralph Marston