SECRETARY
OF STATE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LONDON SW1
Telephone 01-X30X022
218 2111/3
331
MO 5/22
HKC 3861
RECEIVED
SY NO. 51
1 2DEC 1977
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
Dear Stephen,
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
BERMUDA
12th December 1977
MAD
ce Ps
Belld fame. Roberts isille Rauland
B/Pus the Contani Me Staton
Office Ceful Adufey
Defines beft
HUSU. 1
We understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will today take stock of the situation in Bermuda, and review the need for the reinforcements to remain. The Defence Secretary hopes that this review will be conducted quickly, and that the detachment of 158 men from the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1 RRF) can be withdrawn within the next 36 hours.
Under
The extent of the Services commitment to fire fighting duties has imposed very severe strains on their resources, and in particular on Army units and their families. present arrangements 1 RRF takes over fire fighting duties on 20th December from another battalion which then prepares to move to Northern Ireland early in January; there are no ready alternatives to these arrangements. 1 RRF will be on duty over the Christmas and New Year holidays and beyond, if the firemen's strike continues, and the battalion is due to go on a six months unaccompanied tour to Cyprus in April next year.
Both for administrative reasons, and so that the men involved can have some leave with their families before taking up fire fighting duties, the Army hope that the detachment can be back from Bermuda by tomorrow, 13th December.
The Defence Secretary would, of course, accept the necessity of leaving the 1 RRF detachment in Bermuda if the situation there should deteriorate unexpectedly, and if
CONFIDENTIAL
/they
12/12
CONFIDENTIAL
Stephen Wall Esq
Foreign & Commonwealth Office