« Back to 2004 News Archive

Mothers' concerns for Soldier Son

A MOTHER of an elite Black Watch soldier from Portpatrick has said that she was "devastated" to hear that her son is being sent to the so called 'Triangle of Death' in Iraq.

Tena Parker, from Portree Terrace in the village, spoke about her concerns as her son, Sergeant Graham Parker (31), prepares to move north with the Black Watch 1st Battalion from Basra to the troubled region just south of Baghdad.

The move comes just days after Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon made the announcement that around 850 British troops were needed to support US forces in the dangerous area. The triangle gets its grim title after a series of recent rebel attacks on US and coalition forces there which have left many dead.

Graham, who is married to Lisa and has a three-year-old son Ross, had been back in the UK for a training course in England, but got a call on Sunday, 17th October telling him that he would have to return to Iraq immediately. Mrs Parker said:

"Graham went out to Iraq in mid-June and came back in September to do a course. He was supposed to be staying on to do another but was called back on Sunday and they flew out from Brize Norton Air Force base on the Monday."