DerekPlews

Author of "A Brilliant Little Victory". Chair, Bucks Mil Museum Trust. BA(Hon) Hist., MA in FWW Studies. Iraq, Afghan vet. All views my own.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

Looking forward to telling the story of Shamrocks Among the Poppies at this event on 27 June. Places are free but you’ll need to book. Details below. @Helionbooks @RIrishRegiment

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@TheUCS473 @Helionbooks https://t.co/lMKEhzpwjN

https://t.co/dunMTjtZyZ

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

So Harry and Megan are working with Netflix to produce a movie about the Siege of Musa Qal’eh in 2006.
It’s based on Adam Jowett’s book, No Way Out, so, providing they stick to the facts, it should make for good viewing and I am looking forward to seeing it.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

For a taster, listen to my chat with @TheUCS473. Links to both in comments. @Helionbooks

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@SophyRidgeSky Only a fool is unafraid of gunfire. It is how you react to it that matters. You can either cower or you can act purposefully. That’s the difference between warriors and the rest of us mere mortals.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@TheUCS473 Actually, showing some integrity over the vote might have strengthened his case for higher office but dodging it may well have damaged him. In any case, he has only been in politics for 5 mins. Still an apprentice.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

I did a talk on Shamrocks Among the Poppies recently in Newtownards, at which a number of Musa Qal’eh veterans were present. When asked by the audience if they would do it all again, the answer was “in a heartbeat “… or words to that effect.

[Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland @niveteranscomm]

What Drives Soldiers

Derek Plews discusses the reality of professional soldiers and why many choose to deploy, challenging the public perception of conflicts like Iraq.

🎙️ The full podcast is live now:

https://t.co/AZ8q7C9nm8

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@BenObeseJecty He can offer as much as he likes. I don’t trust him to deliver. Out, damned spot!

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

Pick up a copy of Shamrocks Among the Poppies here https://t.co/y9GuTRNkwS

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

Shamrocks Among the Poppies started off as an attempt to tell the story of the Royal Irish Regiment soldiers who fought at Musa Qal’eh. But it grew to become a catalogue of high-level errors that led to the deployment of a force that was too small for the tasks it faced.

[Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland @niveteranscomm]

Derek Plews talks about his book 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝘼𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙨, covering the 2006 Musa Qala deployment, from the decisions that led there, to the fighting, and the impact on soldiers long after they came home.

🎙️ Watch now:
https://t.co/pQuKW0mWsJ

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@AlistairCarns Interesting insight from a man who’s been in politics for five minutes. Bringing in yesterday’s man - who sold off our gold at knock-down price and introduced the disastrous PFI - is a sign of panic. It’s not the act of a man who is confident in his position.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@AlistairCarns Wake up! The people clearly don’t want the snake oil you and Labour are pedalling. Don’t confuse a large majority on a small vote with a democratic mandate for the nonsense you are offering.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

Geoff Hoon was not keen on the idea of pivoting to Afghanistan while we were still heavily engaged in Iraq. His lack of enthusiasm for Blair’s plan may have cost him his job as Defence Secretary.

[Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland @niveteranscomm]

Rethinking Afghanistan

Derek Plews shares his perspective on Geoff Hoon, challenging how he's often portrayed and arguing he acted with integrity in a difficult situation.

🎙️The full podcast is live now, watch or listen wherever you stream.

https://t.co/FYhEpVh0ed

[Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch]

Starmer and Hermer chose to tear up the protections, that Conservatives put in place, to stop our brave veterans being dragged through the courts in their old age. They claim the courts had left them no choice.

Well guess what?

My Shadow Attorney General stepped in, acted pro bono for veterans and won: the UKSC have reinstated immunities and confirmed that the vast majority of our Act is lawful.

When a lower court said the Legacy Act breached the ECHR and the Windsor Framework, Labour did not appeal. It suited them to hide behind international law rather than stand up for those who served our country.

There was no legal duty to betray our veterans. Starmer and Hermer chose to do that. Conservatives chose to fight for them.

I'm proud of @DXW_KC, @AWNDinsmore and my Shadow Northern Ireland & Defence Teams for keeping up this fight.

We are the ONLY party actually holding Labour to account. Farage did not bother to turn up last Monday and vote against Labour’s terrible anti-veterans bill.

Another reason to VOTE CONSERVATIVE today.

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@DrChrisParry It’s my own native birthplace
And it’s on Irish soil
They call it Londonderry
On the banks of the Foyle
🤣☘️

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@DrChrisParry Clearly, that would have been a very short discussion. But others must also bear responsibility for the dire state of our defence capability.🙄

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@robert_lyman The only thing Carns knows about votes is how to dodge them!

[Richard Williams @williams_rje]

Thankyou @NJ_Timothy you have described him and the issue accurately.

“The greatest evils in the world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks.” C.S. Lewis

[DerekPlews @FWWDel]

@societyarmy @FamilyAtWar1418 Don’t forget this one. Musa Qal’eh vet, Danny Groves picking up the 1st runner-up award on my behalf for Shamrocks Among the Poppies. Sorry I couldn’t be there in person - busy leading a group across the Somme battlefield.