The initial award of Battle Honours to units which participated in the major combat phase of operations in Iraq has been announced by the Ministry of Defence following approval by Her Majesty the Queen.

Battle Honours are recommended by the Ministry of Defence Service Honours Committee. They represent official acknowledgement of the part played in a successful campaign or engagement by ships, units and squadrons. They serve as a permanent record of achievement and are intended to foster esprit de corps. They also encourage service personnel to take a personal interest in the operational history of their ship, squadron or Regiment, and units of the same name that may have distinguished themselves in the past.

The Honours relate to operations between 19 March and 30 April, 2003. While all of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force units which have been awarded honours have been named, the only Army unit to be announced at this stage is the Irish Guards. This will allow the unit to display the Battle Honour during the Trooping of the Colour on June 11th, 2005 as they are unlikely to have the opportunity to do this again for up to eight years. The announcement of other Army units will follow in due course.

The following Royal Navy ships and Naval air squadrons have been awarded the Battle Honour 'AL FAW 2003':

HMS OCEAN
HMS SANDOWN
HMS ARK ROYAL
HMS LEDBURY
HMS BLYTH
HMS ROEBUCK
HMS BROCKLESBY
No 845 Naval Air Squadron
HMS BANGOR
No 847 Naval Air Squadron

Royal Marine units participating have not been awarded a separate Battle Honour, as by tradition and historical precedent, 'Gibraltar' remains the only honour held by the Royal Marines.

RAF squadrons which were required to operate under constant threat of attack and had demonstrated gallantry and spirit under fire during the campaign over Iraq and Kuwait or on the ground in the same territories have been awarded the Battle Honour 'IRAQ 2003' with the right to emblazon the honour on their Standards. Other squadrons which participated in the air and ground campaigns, albeit at a slightly lower level of danger, have been awarded the honour 'IRAQ 2003' without the right to emblazon the honour on their Standards. The RAF awards are as follows:

With the Right to Emblazon 'IRAQ 2003' on Squadron Standards

No 1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
No 12 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
No II (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No 31 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron RAF
No 47 Squadron RAF
No IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No 617 Squadron RAF
No 7 Squadron RAF
No 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
No IX (Bomber) Squadron RAF

Without the Right to Emblazonment

No 8 Squadron RAF
No 120 Squadron RAF
No 10 Squadron RAF
No 201 Squadron RAF
No 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
No 206 Squadron RAF
No 23 Squadron RAF
No 216 Squadron RAF
No 33 Squadron RAF
No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment
No 39 Squadron RAF
No II Squadron RAF Regiment
No 43 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
No 16 Squadron RAF Regiment
No 51 Squadron RAF
No 27 Squadron RAF Regiment
No 101 Squadron RAF
No 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
No 111 (Fighter) Squadron RAF

Her Majesty has also approved the award of the Battle Honours 'Al Basrah' and 'Western Iraq 2003' and the Theatre Honour 'Iraq 2003' to Army units which participated in Operation TELIC. Specifically The Queen has approved the award of the Battle Honour 'Al Basrah' and the Theatre Honour 'Iraq 2003' to the Irish Guards who participated in Operation TELIC during the period 19 March to 30 April 2003. The announcement of other Army units will follow in due course.

Background Note

1. The award of these Battle Honours and Theatre Honours for Iraq relate solely to the phase of major combat operations during the period 19 March to 30 April 2003. Her Majesty's Armed Forces contributed significantly to the overall successful coalition operations, with the personnel of ships, units and squadrons demonstrating the utmost steadfastness and gallantry in the face of hostile fire. To be eligible for consideration of the award, a ship, unit or squadron must have been engaged in operations within the sea and land territories of, or the airspace above, Iraq and Kuwait.

2. The criteria for the award of a Battle or Theatre Honour for participation in operations differ between each Service. This is because the nature of operations in sea, ground and air campaigns are all different and each Service has developed its own traditions over time. The Army sought approval of these awards in principle, which was granted, and are now considering the cases of individual units. The Irish Guards have been announced at this stage to allow them to display their Theatre Honour 'Iraq 2003' on their Colour on Trooping the Colour this year. They are unlikely to have the opportunity to do this again for another seven or eight years.

3. Battle Honours are an official acknowledgement of the part played in a successful campaign or engagement by the ships, units and squadrons which receive them. A Theatre Honour is awarded to a Regiment, which has already qualified for a Battle Honour in the Theatre. Regiments that are ineligible for a Battle Honour may claim a Theatre Honour if its Headquarters and 50% of its sub-units were present in the theatre for at least one day and it had creditably performed an allotted task.

4. The last Battle Honour to be awarded to all three Services was "Gulf 1991" for participation in operations against Iraqi Forces in the first Gulf war. Several squadrons of the RAF were also awarded the Battle Honour "Kosovo" for their participation in the NATO allied air campaign in 1999.

5. The main effort of the Royal Navy during Operation TELIC was focussed on the Al Faw peninsula and surrounding waters encompassing a major airborne amphibious assault, port entry and subsequent maintenance of sea lines of communication and support to follow-on operations in the vicinity. This activity has been recognised by the award of the Battle Honour "AL FAW 2003". The following units met the necessary criteria for this award:

845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons: Both met the criteria for 'successful war service' and those laid down for 'combined operations' against significant enemy resistance. 845 NAS provided tactical mobility and combat support for every unit of 3 Cdo Brigade in the area of operations, while the Lynx and Gazelle aircraft of 847 NAS provided armed aviation patrols to the Brigade, flying some 160 combat missions against enemy positions. They regularly came under sustained and heavy fire from small arms, mortars and tanks. After the amphibious assault, the squadron moved forward to support 40 Cdo's assault on Abu Al Khasib. In the Operational Honours for Op Telic, the squadrons were awarded 1 MBE, 1DFC, 2 MiD, and 2 QCVS.

HM Ships OCEAN and ARK ROYAL: Merit the award for launching 845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons as part of the amphibious assault against the shore. On such occasions it is usual for the aircraft carrier also to receive the award, but if the actual action takes place at a distance from the carriers, the escorting ships will not be eligible for the award. Between them, personnel in the two ships were awarded 1 CBE, 1 OBE, 2 MBE, 1QGM, and 5 QCVS.

HM Ships BLYTH, BROCKLESBY, BANGOR, SANDOWN, LEDBURY and ROEBUCK: Were also eligible by meeting the criteria of 'successful war service' and achieving 'complete frustration of the enemy's intention at the time', taking into account the significant level of threat under which they were operating, in the maintenance of the sea lines of communication and the clearance of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway between the 22 and 28 March 2003. This route was needed to provide early and secure access to a deep water port which had been extensively mined. Between them, the minesweepers and attached survey ship were awarded 2 MBE, 1 DSC, 1 MiD, and 2 QCVS.

6. The 1st Battalion Irish Guards did not form a Battlegroup but were instead split up in order to augment 1st (UK) Armoured Division and 7th Armoured Brigade. Nos 1 and 2 Company groups provided infantry support to the Scots Dragoon Guards Battlegroup. Every other remaining Irish Guardsman deployed in Platoons, sections or as individual augmentees with Battlegroups in 7th Armoured Brigade or as part of their Headquarters and Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division. From the commencement of hostilities on 19 March 2003, the Irish Guards took part in the fighting to secure Southern Basra and policed the subsequent peace until they were relieved on 30 April. They were awarded an MBE and three Military Crosses.

7. Details of the RAF units which received Battle Honours are as follows. Those awarded the Battle Honour "IRAQ 2003" with the Right to Emblazon on Squadron Standard:

No. 1(Fighter) Sqn, No3 (Fighter) Sqn and No IV (Army Cooperation) Sqn from RAF Cottesmore were operating Harrier GR7, based primarily at Al Jaber and were deployed in coalition air operations in the close air support and air interdiction roles

No. II (Army Cooperation) Sqn from RAF Marham operating Tornado GR4 based at Ali Al Salem and Al Udeid were deployed in coalition air operations in the close air support, air interdiction roles and Recce roles

No. 7 Sqn based in Odiham operating Chinook HC Mk 2 operated from various locations in the Support Helicopter role

No. IX (Bomber) Sqn from RAF Marham operating Tornado GR4 based at Ali Al Salem were deployed in coalition air operations in the close air support, air interdiction roles and suppression of enemy air defences roles

No. 12 (Bomber) Sqn from RAF Lossiemouth operating Tornado GR4 based at A Udeid were deployed in coalition air operations in the close air support and air interdiction roles

No. 31 Sqn from RAF Marham operating Tornado GR4 based at Ali Al Salem were deployed in coalition air operations in the close air support and air interdiction roles

No. 47 Sqn from RAF Lyneham operating the C130 Hercules were deployed in Strategic and Tactical Air Transport Role

No. 617 Sqn from RAF Lossiemouth operating Tornado GR4 were based at both Ali Al Salem and Al Udeid were deployed in coalition air operations in the strike, close air support and air interdiction roles

No. 51 Sqn RAF Regt from RAF Lossiemouth were deployed to Ali Al Salem and latterly Basrah primarily in the force protection role.

RAF Squadrons Awarded the Battle Honour "IRAQ 2003" without the Right to Emblazon on Squadron Standard:

No. 8 Sqn and No 23 Sqn from RAF Waddington operating the SEW Sentry, based at Prince Sultan Air Base were deployed in coalition air operations in the Airborne Early Warning and Control role

No. 10 Sqn and No. 101 Sqn from RAF Brize Norton operating the VC10 CMk1K/K3/K4 flew from the UK, Cyprus and Prince Sultan Air Base and were deployed in coalition air operations in the Strategic Air Transport, Air Refuelling and Medical Evacuation roles

No. 18 (Bomber) Sqn from RAF Odiham operating the Chinook helicopter flew from HMS Ark Royal and were deployed in coalition air operations in the Support Helicopter role

No. 33 Sqn from RAF Benson operating Puma HC1 from Ali Al Salem and various locations in Iraq were deployed in coalition air operations in the Support Helicopter and Casualty Evacuation roles

No. 39 Sqn from RAF Marham operating the Canberra PR9 were deployed in coalition air operations in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance role

No. 43 (Fighter) Sqn and No. 111 (Fighter) Sqn from RAF Leuchars operating the Tornado F3 were based at Prince Sultan Air Base and were deployed in coalition air operations in the Defensive Counter Air role

No. 51 Sqn from RAF Waddington operating the Nimrod were deployed in coalition air operations in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance role

No. 120 Sqn and No. 201 Sqn from RAF Kinloss operating the Nimrod MR flew from Prince Sultan Air Base and were deployed in coalition air operations in the Imagery Support and Force Protection of coalition shipping roles.

No. 206 Sqn from RAF Kinloss operating the Nimrod MR flew from Ali Al Salem, Prince Sultan Air Base and Al Faw and were deployed in coalition air operations in the Imagery Support and Force Protection of coalition shipping roles.

No. 216 Sqn from RAF Brize Norton operating the Tristar KC1/K1/C2 and C2A flew from the UK and Bahrain and were deployed in coalition air operations in the strategic and in-theatre Air Transport and Air Refuelling roles.

No. 1 Sqn RAF Regt from RAF St Mawgan were deployed to Ali Al Salem and Ramallah in the force and pipeline protection roles

No. II Sqn RAF Regt from RAF Honington and No. 34 Sqn RAF Regt from RAF Leeming were deployed at various locations in Iraq in a support role for coalition ground operations

No. 16 Sqn RAF Regt from RAF Honington were deployed to Ali Al Salem in the Ground Based Air Defence role for coalition forces.

No. 27 Sqn RAF Regt from RAF Honington were deployed in Southern Iraq in the Joint Nuclear Biological and Chemical protection role and latterly on coalition battle group duties.