Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, visited the Thames Valley on Saturday afternoon to thank troops from 7th Battalion the Rifles, an Army Reserve Battalion for the contribution they have been making in helping to defend local residents and properties from flooding.
Whilst visiting the troops, Mark also joined in with helping to deploy sandbags to reinforce a dam which was being built to protect an electricity substation, which supplies the town of Reading, in Berkshire.
Mark, who himself served in the Territorial Army during the Cold War, was pleased to see Army Reservists in action making a valuable contribution to defending the communities in which many of them and their friends and families live.
Speaking about his visit, Mark Francois said:
“I was proud to see the contribution that the Army Reservists of 7 Rifles are making to flood defence efforts in the Thames Valley. The Armed Forces deployed some 3000 personnel over the weekend to help assist with flood defences in the West Midlands right across to Kent and Army Reservists are playing their part in this as well. I think the public have found the military presence very reassuring and, as Armed Forces Minister, I wanted to go out and thank some of the troops personally.”