Description
Iraq War Medal, bar 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003, 25045694 Corporal A. “Al” Cheetham, Royal Signals, 3 UK Divisional Signal Regiment in Iraq, former Charlottenburg Troop.
Officially laser engraved: “25045694 Cpl A. Cheetham. R. Signals.”
Service number corresponds to enlistment circa 1994-1995.
“Al Cheetham” is mentioned a few times in “The Wire” the Magazine of the Royal Signals.
The August 1995 Wire issue recalls a recent recruit (matching his likely date of enlistment) as part of the Martial Merlin Team with 64th City of Sheffield Signal Squadron:
“MARTIAL MERLIN This year’s 15 (NE) Bde infantry skills competition was held on the Catterick training area and based at Wathgill Camp. Entries included teams from the Brigade infantry regiments along with several ‘other arms’ including the RLC and Queen’s Own Yeomanry.”
The composition of each team comprised a rigid rank structure which necessitates ours including several recently qualified recruits namely Sigs Ogden, CHEETHAM and 2 x Oxley. Despite this level of inexperience the training organised by Sgt John Marsden over the preceeding weeks paid off and the team in general acquitted itself extremely well insofar that he retained the All-Arms-Trophy for the 2nd year running.”
It includes a group photograph which he must be part of.
He is later mentioned in 1997 Wire as “Al Cheetham” helping organise a Go Karting day for the soldiers.
2000 Wire issue recalls service in MAN Troop 16 Signals:
“MAN TROOP
The majority of MAN Tp have returned from Christmas and post deployment leave, and are now preparing for the forthcoming Regimental, Brigade and ARRC Exercises… Sadly we say goodbye to and congratulations to… LCpl Al Cheetham who are all posted on promotion – good luck.”
The Wire April 2003 issue recalling the time just before the invasion of Iraq recalls him now as a Corporal of Charlottenburg Troop, 229 Berlin Signal Squadron:
“The Troop also wishes Cpl Al Cheetham all the best in his new posting at 3 (UK) Div.”
This confirms his presence as a Corporal in the 3rd United Kingdom Divisional Headquarters and Signal Regiment who were deployed during 2003 in Op Telic during the early part of the Iraq War.
