RGJRA In the News

In the Summer of 2009 3 Rifles commissioned an artist, Marcus Hodge, to visit Helmand and record their up-coming Op Herrick 11 deployment with a painting.  He visited the Battle Group in Sangin in February/March 2010 and began preparatory work for this giant project.

After six months of effort this enormous venture will be completed on Friday and will be unveiled in Oxfordshire at a Help for Heroes Ball which Lt Col Nick Kitson, CO 3 Rifles, will attend on Saturday 18^th September.

The theme of the picture is one of hope.  It shows, amongst the uncertainty of a tough counter-insurgency, that a massive amount of progress has been made in Sangin over the last four years.

As such this painting has become less about 3 Rifles and more about the Armed Forces in general and all the sacrifices that have been made by every regiment or unit that has served there.  Therefore this truly spectacular piece of modern history is being released for sale across the whole of the Armed Forces and I invite you as a Rifleman, regimental friend or operational colleague to read the attached document and consider whether you would like to own a piece that so truly represents what has become a modern legend.

May I also ask that if you have the opportunity to distribute this flyer by either print or email you could do so and help support this project. To print the PDF HERE simply select 'print both sides - flip on short edge' and at should appear as a four page leaflet. Any profits gained from print sales will be donated to Help for Heroes and subsequently Rifles Care for Casualties. 

More information will follow at www.riflesdirect.com and with an article showing Marcus' progress in The Times' 'Military Matters' on Saturday 18^th Sep.

If you have any questions please contact me at 661payne@armymail.mod.uk .

Yours ever,

Tom Payne

TE Payne

Capt GBR(A) - RIFLES