General Chat

"One Black Watch soldier has been killed and two more injured in an incident north of Camp Dogwood, the Ministry of Defence has said. A roadside bomb appeared to be involved and one soldier was "possibly seriously" injured, a spokesman said. It happened north of the UK battle group's base at Camp Dogwood 20 miles, (32km) from Baghdad." - from BBC news online. My condolences to all involved. I pray for peace and truth in our crazy world. Joy

My thoughts and prayers are with the families tonight, but i think this is the first of many Condolence threads we will be puting on here, i fear this is just the begining, i feel for any one who has a Child or a relation in the forces at the moment

Have just been watching the news, how terribly sad..lovely boys, God Bless

i send my thoughts to all families of the black watch , especially the families of todays loss. it makes me so sad to hear of the losses everytime, our boys do a great job for shit rewards , they deserve better . now and always thinking of them all.

My thoughts are with their families, what a sense;ess wate of lives. June

Thinking of them and there families. Love Debs.

Condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. The son of a friend is serving out there at the moment - his 3rd tour of duty out there. I can't begin to imagine what she is going through everytime she hears news like this. May they soon all be home. Jacky

Just read this on BBC news. Joy Dead soldier 'did not back war' A Black Watch soldier who died in a suicide bombing which killed two of his colleagues did not think troops should have been in Iraq, his brother said. Sgt Stuart Gray, 31, Pte Paul Lowe, 19, and Pte Scott McArdle, 22, all from Fife, were killed near Falluja. Speaking at the family's home in Kelty, Pte Lowe's 18-year-old brother Craig said the family was "devastated". "He didn't think he should be there because the regiment had already done their time over there," he said. He said his brother thought it was a war "which nobody knows why it was started or what it was done for". The family felt that the UK Government had sent the Black Watch into a more dangerous part of Iraq to help out US President George W Bush. He also paid tribute to a "brilliant brother, comrade and friend" and said: "We're still upset at his loss, it's just not sinking in at all." Craig, who has himself recently returned from serving in Iraq, said his brother lived for his job in the army. "I don't think he thought about the dangers, he just kept his chin up," he said. Scotland's papers reported news of the men's deaths He last spoke to his brother on Sunday, when he said he was missing his family and was hoping to be home for Christmas. Craig added: "I think they should just get them all out of there now because if not we are going to lose a lot more than this." The Black Watch's commanding officer, Lt Col James Cowan, extended the regiment's sympathy to the families of the dead men, who he described as "brothers-in-arms". "For a close-knit family such as the Black Watch this is indeed a painful blow and all three of these soldiers were our friends. "But as we mourn their deaths, so we remember their lives and give thanks for their contribution to the life of our regiment," he said. I would like to... express my pride and gratitude to the Black Watch for the extraordinary and heroic job they are doing Col Cowan said Sgt Gray was an experienced sergeant in the mortar platoon. Pte McArdle was a rifleman in the elite reconnaissance platoon. Pte Lowe was a talented drummer in the regiment's Pipes and Drums. It is expected that the men's bodies will be flown back to the UK next week. An Iraqi interpreter, who has not been named, was also killed in the attack and eight other soldiers were injured. The interpreter was due to have been married on the day he died. Col Cowan said a suicide bomber blew up a vehicle in front of the soldiers at a road block on the eastern bank of the River Euphrates, near Falluja, on Thursday. The unit then came under sustained mortar fire in what was described as a sophisticated and coordinated attack. Col Cowan added: "While we feel this blow most keenly we are the Black Watch and we will not be deterred from seeing our task through to a successful conclusion." Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I would like to express my deep sympathy and condolences to the families of those soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq yesterday, and also to express my pride and gratitude to the Black Watch for the extraordinary and heroic job they are doing there, which is of crucial importance to making sure democratic elections can go ahead in Iraq." Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said the deaths were "an absolute tragedy for all involved". "I would like to express my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have been killed. Our thoughts are with all of them at this time," he said. "The bravery of those soldiers in Iraq contrasts sharply with the chicanery of the politicians who sent them there in the first place." However, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Salmond's comments "demonstrate clearly there are no depths to which he will not sink". The Black Watch, which traditionally recruits from Perthshire, Angus and Fife, is based in Warminster, Wiltshire.

Give Tony Blair and Hoon the Goon a gun each and send them out! Blair said they'd be home for Christmas. He just omitted to mention the body bags.

Worst fears come true for some families, my deepest sympathies are with them. Must make it harder for remaining families wondering if they'll be next to hear that dreaded news. kxx

My feelings too! A terrible and pointless waste of lives. my thoughts and prayers are with their families.

I had been anticipating this news. I add my condolences. Joy

My thoughts are with the families at this time, such a terrible waste of life sandra

Thinking of their Families at this very sad time.

That is dreadfully sad. God knows what their Mums are going through. My son was in the forces a few years ago at Bosnia and I can remember what I went through. He was OK, he came home. Jo.

I second that Pauline.

such sad news thinking of them all lou xxxx

Terrible news that already 3 of our fine young soldiers have been killed in Iraq by a suicide bomber, and less than 48 hours after their arrival at their new base. My condolences go to all the Black Watch regiment, and of course to the familes of the men concerned. A very sad Pauline