A South Essex MP stood by Veterans from Essex’s local Regiment, at a march in London, over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, who served as a TA infantry officer in the Royal Anglian Regiment during the Cold War, joined around a dozen other former Royal Anglians (both ex-Regulars and Reservists) at a march in London, to protest against the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
As its name implies, the Royal Anglian Regiment, which incorporates the former Essex Regiment, traditionally recruits from across East Anglia. As a result, down the years, many soldiers from South Essex served in Northern Ireland, during the period of civil unrest known as ‘The Troubles.’
The protest march, which took place on Good Friday in Whitehall, was attended by hundreds of Veterans from around the country, many of them also on motorbikes, objecting to Labour’s “Troubles Bill”, which threatens to expose many former soldiers to historic prosecutions, often at the hands of Sinn Fein.
Speaking about the day, Mark Francois said:
“It was a pleasure to meet up with about a dozen members of my former Regiment, at this march in London. The Royal Anglians have given loyal service to the Crown over many years and its Veterans should be thanked for their efforts, not hounded by lawyers, for fighting IRA terrorists, on our behalf.”
