AS THE Fylde marks the second anniversary of the September 11 tragedy today, local soldiers were heading to Iraq for the second stage of George Bush and Tony Blair's 'war on terrorism'.
The 1st Battalion of the Royal Green Jackets set off in the early hours of this morning to reinforce the British army in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
The main role of the Royal Green Jackets, who have been based at Weeton Barracks for the last year, will be to help with the training of the new Iraqi Civil Defence Corps and to help protect the people of Iraq as attempts are made to bring peace to the country.
450 light infantrymen have started their long journey this morning, with a small force left behind at Weeton. They will join around 600 soldiers based in Cyprus to bolster the force of 10,000 British soldiers already in the country.
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