Latest news with #RoyalArtillery
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why so many military veterans move into cybersecurity
Leading a foot patrol through an empty village in a conflict zone might seem a world away from working in a security operations centre (SOC) in a major enterprise. But, says former infantryman James Murphy, when you see a trashcan by the side of the road, and you know no-one is collecting rubbish that day: "The spider hairs on the back of your neck start tingling." And that vigilance, says Mr Murphy, now director of veterans and families at the Forces Employment Charity, is precisely the sort of instinct the cybersecurity industry covets. Cyberattacks are a fact of life for organizations worldwide, whether straightforward cybercrime or politically motivated. The UK's armed forces recently launched an accelerated training program for recruits to bolster its cyber capabilities, with successful candidates in line for one of the highest armed forces starting salaries. But there has long been a steady march in the other direction. In the UK, the Forces Employment Charity's TechVets programme typically helps 15 to 20 people a month into employment, with between 40 and 60% of those head into cybersecurity. And that is a much needed supply of workers - there is a global shortfall of four million cyber professionals, according to the World Economic Forum. The need for those workers has been underlined in the UK, where operations at two leading retailers have been disrupted by hackers. The route between the military and cybersecurity is not always direct. Interim chief information security officer Mo Ahddoud spent 10 years in the Royal Artillery, serving tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Germany before leaving in 1999. The "natural transition" at the time was into other uniformed organizations, such as the police or the prison service. However, he says: "I realized the world was changing." As part of his resettlement process, he took online courses in computer applications, then studied PC repair. From there he moved into support desk work, and found his way into cyber security, with organizations such as BAE Systems and Universal Studios. Mr Ahddoud's military training has always informed his approach to cybersecurity. He recalls being told by an officer, that it's not so important how deep a solider can dig. "When you're being fired on, you'll have the motivation to dig a really big hole." The real skill is dealing with problems, such as fixing broken supply chains, or coping when communications go down. "That mindset was always around the process. How do you fix it?" In addition, he says, military personnel always think in terms of "risk, defence in depth, layers of defence". That fits "very neatly" with cybersecurity, where risk is ever-present and must be monitored. Responses to potential attacks are prepared in advance, while accepting no plan "survives first contact" with an adversary. "You have to work and be agile around it, because it never plays out how you expect it to," says Mr Ahddoud. Former military personnel are particularly suited to roles in so-called blue teams, says Catherine Burn, associate director at cybersecurity recruitment firm, LT Harper. These are roles such as security operations, incident response and forensics, in contrast to red teamers - the ethical hackers who look for vulnerabilities and often prefer to operate alone. As well as being "grafters", Ms Burn says, vets tend to be strong team players and can keep their cool under stress. Afterall: "A lot of these situations are disasters." But the cybersecurity world has much to offer veterans too. Crystal Morin joined the United States Air Force, in part, because she wanted to learn a language. She was assigned to learn Arabic, around the time of the Arab spring, and worked on counter threat finance and counter terrorism. After leaving the service, Ms Morin joined a defence contractor, again working on counterterrorism, eventually transitioning to cyber terrorism then cyber threat intelligence. She's now a cybersecurity strategist at US security firm, Sysdig. "All of my training has been hands on," she says. But she adds, other vets had "cross-trained" while in the service from other roles such as artillery or logistics, while others still used their GI Benefits to study security formally. Whatever their path into cybersecurity, she says, it's a natural transition. "A SOC [security operations centre] is exactly the same as the security fields we were working in. The adrenaline, the problem solving, right? It's the keeping the peace. Fighting the bad guys." But, Mrs Morin adds, "The camaraderie is exactly like the military, the busy weeks, the quiet weeks, the jokes that nobody gets unless you've been there done that…It's just a really tight knit community." Mr Murphy says employers have become more aware of the skills that veterans bring. "Once an employer picks up someone from the ex-Forces community, they will want to come back for another one." That's not to say some adjustments aren't necessary. Onboarding processes can vary between organizations, while a lack of standardization and job titles can be a contrast with the highly organized military world. The key is pinpointing the sort of organisation they want to work in, Mr Murphy says. "Where you get up in the morning and you're already looking forward to going to work, and you're working in a team where you feel you belong, where you feel you're having an impact." Although the nature of the "impact" might be different to what they're used to. As Mrs Morin says, working in the private world is different to directly tackling terrorism. "I do miss being able to take down the bad guys and defend the world... I can't so much put folks in jail anymore." The Finnish defence firms 'on steroids' Do we need cocoa-free chocolate and is it nice? A revolution is under way in India's trainer industry
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Remembering the WWII sinking of the Lisbon Maru
A memorial has been unveiled to the sinking of a wartime Japanese cargo ship and the loss of more than 800 British prisoners of Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by a US submarine in October 1942, which did not know it was taking the PoWs from Hong Kong to Japan, to be used as forced labour. Before fleeing the sinking vessel, guards secured the hatches on the allied prisoners. "The intent was that the PoW's would go down with the ship," said Ken Salmon, from Hook, whose father was saved by Chinese memorial, on Qingbang Island, South East of Shanghai, was created after the descendant of another prisoner wrote directly to Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Mr Salmon's father, Andrew, was one of the lucky ones. He was in the ship's hold number three and was with other members of the Royal Artillery. A group managed to use a ladder and force the hatches before it broke, trapping many of the others below decks."Once he got out in the fresh air, he was lucky he wasn't shot," said Mr Salmon."The Japanese saw the prisoners were breaking out of the holds," he explained. "They opened fire using machine guns and rifles." His father, Andrew, wrote an account of what happened in a diary he managed to keep throughout his captivity, even though its discovery would probably have led to his execution. After the war his wife typed up his notes telling how he had dived overboard and was one of around 380 prisoners who were rescued by local fishermen. The Royal Artilleryman and the other survivors were recaptured by the Japanese and put on another ship to continue their journey, eventually being liberated at the end of the war in August his father's account, Ken said he regarded him as "a bit of a hero."He never actually had any hatred for the Japanese, which some people find strange."Andrew Salmon even travelled to Osaka in the 1960s in an attempt to try and locate the camp where had been held. Military historian, Brian Finch, who was associate producer on a documentary telling the story of the sinking said too few people knew about the Lisbon Maru."I think it's the inevitable consequence of people in 1945, who celebrated in May what they thought was the end of the war. "It was just the end of the war in Europe and they'd forgotten about people in the Far East.'Ken Salmon has been unable to discover anything about who it was who saved his father's life, other than them being a fisherman. But having been able to travel there and thank the local community meant a lot to him."A lot of the PoW's were taken by the current and washed out to sea. He was lucky in so many ways." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
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First Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Pahalgam to Poonch: Two tales of responses, India follows UNSC as Pakistan commits war crimes
Pakistan's shelling of Poonch civilians seen as a war crime and breach of international law read more On May 7, the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir became the centre of a serious and tragic event. Pakistan's military began heavy and random artillery shelling on civilian areas in the Poonch district. The attack went on for almost nine hours and led to the deaths of 15 Indian civilians. More than 40 others were hurt. Among those killed were four children between the ages of seven and fourteen, four people from the Sikh community, a Muslim cleric from a local madrasa and villagers from places like Mankote, Bandichechian, and Sandigate. Sadly, an Indian soldier, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the 5 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, also died in the attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As mortar shells hit homes, places of worship and public buildings, the attack showed how dangerous and unstable the LoC has become. It also showed Pakistan's clear and cruel disregard for basic international laws. These were not accidents—they were direct and random attacks on ordinary people and important civilian places. This attack was not a one-time event. It was part of a bigger pattern of broken ceasefires, back-and-forth attacks and the use of civilian suffering as a weapon. After Indian forces carried out precision strikes on nine terror-linked locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians—Pakistan's military didn't strike Indian Army posts. Instead, they fired on areas where no soldiers were present, hitting civilians. Attacking civilians and public buildings without any military reason breaks international humanitarian law and could lead to serious legal and diplomatic problems for Pakistan. War crimes and violations Pakistan's actions in Poonch clearly break many rules of international humanitarian law (IHL), human rights law and global treaties. The most important of these are the Geneva Conventions of 1949, especially the Fourth Convention, which is meant to protect civilians during wartime. Article 27 says civilians must be treated humanely, and Article 32 bans violence like murder and torture. Additional Protocol I (1977), in Articles 51 and 52, also strictly bans attacks on civilians and civilian buildings. Customary international humanitarian law—based on long-standing practices and court rulings—also says there must be a clear difference between soldiers and civilians (Rule 1), bans random attacks (Rule 11) and requires military responses to be proportional (Rule 14). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The killing of non-combatants, like a family of five—including three children—who died inside their home, is a clear example of these rules being broken. There were no military targets in the affected villages, so Pakistan cannot claim there was military necessity. This also breaks the rule of proportionality. According to Rule 156 of customary IHL, such serious violations are considered war crimes. These actions also fall under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998). Article 8(2)(b)(i)–(ii) defines war crimes as 'intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population' and 'civilian objects not being military objectives.' In cases of internal conflict, Article 8(2)(e)(i) bans the same actions. If it is proven that these attacks were planned and aimed at civilians without military targets, then Pakistan's shelling in Poonch would be considered war crimes under the Rome Statute. India's actions were different. Its strikes were aimed at specific terrorist sites and were meant to stop immediate threats. These operations follow the widely accepted right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Briefing on Operation Sindoor on Wednesday Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri referred to the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement on the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that India's military strikes were in line with the UNSC's call for bringing perpetrators of the meadow massacre to justice. In comparison, Pakistan's random shelling of homes, religious places and public buildings—with no military reason—is not an act of war but a war crime. Breach of bilateral and international agreements In addition to the global treaties mentioned earlier, Pakistan's actions also directly break the India-Pakistan Ceasefire Agreement of February 25, 2021. This agreement, which both countries publicly supported, helped reduce violence in the years before. However, in 2025, Pakistan violated the ceasefire 15 times before the May 7 shelling, showing a clear and planned move towards aggression. These violations are not just political problems—they break international laws that both countries agreed to, especially when ceasefires are clearly declared and recognised by both sides. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The shelling also goes against the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 2(4), which forbids using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country. Moreover, by intentionally killing civilians, including women and children, Pakistan has violated Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This article protects the right to life, which applies both during peace and war. Civilian suffering as strategy This escalation is not just a military action. It is an attack on the mental well-being and lives of the people in India's border communities. The mortar and artillery attacks spread far beyond Poonch, reaching Kupwara, Baramulla, Tangdhar and even the outskirts of Srinagar. Civilian areas like Salamabad, Kamalkote and Batapora were also hit. Local people, like Mohammad Aslam from Salamabad, described sleepless nights filled with fear. The heavy shelling made it impossible to sleep from midnight onward, as he told Hindustan Times. In Chowkibal and Kandi Tangdhar, families hid in bunkers and mud homes, hoping for survival. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lt Gen (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, who served in Jammu and Kashmir five times, believes Pakistan's goal might be to force people to leave important areas like Poonch by making life unbearable for civilians. Reports from Bagh Hussain Rathore, a former village leader, support this idea. He told Daily Excelsior that only five to seven per cent of the local population stayed in the area, with most people fleeing due to constant shelling and leaving behind their homes, animals and livelihoods. Important roads like the Poonch-Kalai national highway and the Sher-e-Kashmir bridge, which are essential for civilian travel and emergencies, were also targeted. These were not military points, but critical lifelines for the local communities, now trapped in trauma and forced to move away. Political and military responses Facing a serious humanitarian and security crisis, the Indian government took quick action to coordinate a response. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha held urgent meetings with district officials and security forces. He assured the public, through official statements and also Hindustan Times reported that food, healthcare and evacuation plans were being set up. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the shelling during a video call with local officials, saying that civilian areas were the main targets. His comments reflected the fear and displacement felt by the local people. In terms of military response, India acted carefully. According to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, the Indian Army responded in a 'calibrated manner,' to avoid escalating the situation. Civilians as strategic pawns Pakistan increasingly finds itself under pressure from the international community to act against terror network that its military is widely known to have created over decades. Its attempts to swing the opinion in the UNSC, eyeing to take advantage of being a non-permanent member at this time, have failed. Several UNSC members have sought accountability from it for the Pahalgam terror attack. They viewed Pakistan's actions were escalatory in nature. Several India leaders have called for justice for the people of Poonch and other places targeted by Pakistan, whose actions are being increasingly seen as escalatory. International rules call for protection of civilians even in the times of war, indicating that sooner or later, Pakistan may be held accountable for the suffering of civilians in response to India's strike on terror hubs which came after New Delhi gave Islamabad a fortnight after the Pahalgam terror attack to act on its own against the perpetrators. But Pakistan was seen shielding the terrorist outfit that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre not only on its territory but also at the UNSC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Guardian
08-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
VE Day: Channel Islanders' cheers and tears – archive, 1945
St Peter Port, Guernsey I watched the final surrender of the German garrison in the Channel Islands, and half an hour later I saw the delirious joy of the freedom that surrender brought. I saw, as I landed with the first British soldiers of the forces of freedom, scenes that were almost indescribable – the tears and cheers which 22 men of the Royal Artillery released as they came to St Peter Port to take over the garrison, which had been commanded by the German Vice-Admiral Huffmeier. This handful of artillerymen who went to take over an island with a garrison of ten thousand Germans, oldish soldiers, went ashore in a German trawler flying the White Ensign. The police inspector and a sergeant, Guernsey men, were the unofficial reception party on the dock, and both of them were choking back the tears when, speechless, they grasped our hands. The tiny force formed up on the docks, fixed bayonets, and marched towards the dock gates. There, behind those gates, was a seething, cheering, crying mob of men, women and children. Over them the church bells of St Peter Port were clanging tumultuously, every house had its union jack and bunting, saved through five long desperate wearing years for this moment. 'They're British!' Then the crowd broke through the dock gates – in one second those-gunners were marching like guardsmen; in the next they were torn from the ranks, kissed, hugged, cheered. 'You have been so long coming; we have waited so long for you.' 'British! They're British!' the islanders cried. Somehow the soldiers re-formed. Two girls with great union jacks led them into the town. People rushed from their houses to join the crowd. The joy of people, who have been eating rabbit skins, getting 1½ lb of potatoes each week, who had that morning breakfasted on stewed cabbage leaves, was almost heartbreaking. One man told me he was smoking a cigarette for which he had paid 28s. I offered him one, and in a frenzied grabbing of hands the packet disappeared. They disappeared, I was told by an islander, just as all the dogs and cats have disappeared from the island – only these latter have been eaten. Perhaps their one consolation was that the German garrison was even worse off. They have had no supplies for many weeks and no Red Cross ship has brought them heaven-sent parcels from Lisbon. In this overwhelming excitement many things were told me – that German soldiers were seen eating earthworms and grass, that nine of them had battered an old woman when she sought to protect her food – these were stories for which confirmation in the circumstances was impossible. God save the king The soldiers formed up on each side of the steps of the Court House, on which the officers of the landing party and Mr Victor Carey, Guernsey Bailiff, stood. As a command rang out a halyard was pulled and the union jack floated out in the soft sunlit breeze. One could hear the sob from the crowd. Then, first thinly, but rising to a great volume of sound, they sang God Save the King. They sang with a sob in their throats. Then they stopped, looked up again, and cheered. That to us all seemed the real moment of the liberation of Guernsey. Crowds welcome British troops on Jersey during the liberation of the Channel Islands, 13 May 1945. Photograph:The excitement intensified. The soldiers – their division sign is that quarter of the royal coat of arms which is the crest of the Channel Islands – were again engulfed. The Lieutenant Colonel and red-tabbed Captain – all of us – were covered with kisses, and a plump war photographer was presented with a bouquet of red, white, and blue sweet peas, probably meant for someone else. An American war correspondent was almost overwhelmed; his was the first United States uniform they had seen. And amid all these tremendous scenes of jubilation of a community half starving, half of the 40,000 population in slave camps in Germany or safe in Britain, bewildered German soldiers walked and cycled about the tasks still remaining to them. They have suffered An ineradicable hatred of the Germans has bitten deep into the souls of these Channel Islanders. They have suffered much. The gaunt greyness of hunger is in their eyes and faces. The old people have suffered most; the young children, nurtured at all costs, are nearly all fit and bonny. Nearly all the men are drawn and haggard. They wanted, too, to know so much. 'Send us newspapers,' they said, thrusting Nazi propaganda sheets into my hands. 'When will more food come?' 'When will the Germans go?' To-night, as we are leaving for England, Channel Islanders are cheering from motor-boats and rowing craft and overhead Allied aircraft are zooming and sweeping, firing coloured lights, which drop green, red, and violet over the freed and joyous Channel Islands. Disbelieving Nazis: PoWs at Bury say, 'It is all propaganda' 11 May 1945 Hundreds of German prisoners of war at Warth Camp, Bury, refuse to believe that Germany is defeated. Flags are flying from houses surrounding the camp and for two nights victory displays of fireworks, bonfires and celebrations have kept them awake until the early hours. But they still will not be convinced. 'It is all propaganda,' they tell the guards. When the guards pointed to the first victory flags being hoisted the prisoners said it was in honour of a royal birth. Since the news was announced Germans who are not fanatical followers of Hitler have been trying to convince their fellow prisoners that it is true. On VE Day lines of prisoners listened to the camp interpreter telling them in German of their country's unconditional surrender to the Allies. In the camp a union jack was run up. Italian co-operators have been confined to their hostel at Burrs Mill, Bury during the two-day holiday.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
A look back on three Scottish brothers who won four Military Crosses between them
Ahead of VE Day this Thursday, we look back at the story of the heroic Scots siblings who fought during one of the darkest times in history. As the 80th anniversary of VE Day approaches, the remarkable wartime service of four Dundee brothers, three of whom were awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, continues to stand out as one of Scotland's most extraordinary family stories of the Second World War. In April 1945, the front page of the Broughty Ferry Guide and Carnoustie Gazette carried the striking headline 'West Ferry family's unique record', a tribute to three local brothers who had each been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. The article talked about Major Stanley Rae of the Royal Horse Artillery, who had just received the prestigious decoration, joining his brothers Major Ian Rae of the Royal Artillery and Major Bruce Rae of the Gordon Highlanders. Bruce had even been awarded a bar to his MC, signifying a second commendation for bravery in battle. Now, 80 years after the end of the Second World War in Europe, the extraordinary story of the Rae brothers is once again being shared. Their bravery has been formally preserved for future generations following the donation of their four Military Crosses to The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum. The handover took place in December 2019, ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020. All four Rae brothers served in the war, three of them returning home decorated for acts of immense courage, and the fourth spending years as a prisoner of war. The sons of Stephen and Agnes Rae of Encliffe, Albany Road, West Ferry, the brothers had grown up in Broughty Ferry. They each attended Cargilfield Preparatory School and Fettes College in Edinburgh, following a path of academic distinction before taking up arms during one of history's darkest chapters. Stanley Rae, after joining the Honourable Artillery Company shortly after war broke out, was commissioned as an officer in 1939 and deployed to the front in 1942. His Military Cross was awarded for bravery near Perugia in 1945 during a decisive Allied push that broke German lines and forced a retreat towards Rome. In just two days, Stanley's guns fired more than 600 rounds. He would finish the war with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ian Rae, serving in the 76th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery, known locally as the Dundee Gunners, fought across France, Belgium and Germany. He earned his Military Cross for 'outstanding leadership and courage' during brutal combat near Venray in the Netherlands in October 1944, as British forces surged towards the German border. Douglas Rae, the third brother, enlisted with the London Scottish Regiment in 1938, which was affiliated with the 1st Gordon Highlanders. He was captured at St Valery in 1940, when the 51st Highland Division became separated from the main British Army, and spent five years as a prisoner of war before being released in 1945. He returned home as a captain. The youngest of the four, Bruce Rae, joined the Gordon Highlanders in a bid to avenge his brother's capture. Just 17 when he left school to work at Brown & Tawse Steel Stockholders in Dundee, Bruce showed exceptional courage on the battlefield. His first Military Cross was awarded for 'cool and selfless' bravery in North Africa, where he led a daring bayonet charge. A second commendation, the bar to his MC, followed for heroics in North West Europe in 1945. Derek Patrick, Associate Lecturer in History at St Andrews University, said: 'It's rare enough to win it once but twice is unusual and represents quite extraordinary courage. I've come across families where two sons were decorated for gallantry, it certainly happened, but not something I'd describe as common.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In 2020, Stanley Rae's son Ian said he was 'very pleased' the family medals had been entrusted to The McManus. He noted it was a chapter his late father and uncles rarely spoke about. In an unexpected twist, Mr Rae also learned from The Courier that his father's cousin, Captain William Bruce Rae-Smith, had been awarded both the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in Western Europe, making the family's record all the more extraordinary. At the medal handover, Mr Rae stood alongside Carly Cooper, curator at The McManus, and Sinclair Aitken, chairman of Leisure & Culture Dundee, who accepted the decorations on the museum's behalf. Mr Rae said: 'On behalf of the wider Rae family, we are delighted that the medals are remaining in Dundee just a street away from where the family business of McIntyre and Rae operated from. We also are proud that these medals are coming under the expert care of The McManus staff to enable future generations to learn of the courage and sacrifice of the Rae brothers.'
