16 Air Assault Brigade is the rapid response unit of the British army, based at Colchester in Essex. Formed in 1999 as a combination of 24 Air Mobile and 5th Airborne, it operates closely with the Apache ground attack force at RAF Wattisham up the road in Suffolk.
One of its key commanders is Major Phil Bray, himself a vibrant Christian, so we can imagine his delight at the news of the appointment of a new full-time evangelist for the Colchester garrison, William Wade, who will transfer from Germany in July.
SASRA presentation
William, from Northern Ireland and a former serving soldier, has been a full time SASRA (Soldiers and Airmen Scripture Readers Association) worker for several years, but is excited about his new posting amongst these specialist front line troops. I first met him at the Leicester minister’s conference in April, and then my wife and I were invited to the Red Lion Hotel in Colchester for his presentation to supporters and local church leaders, hosted by the SASRA executive and former head of the Army, General Lord Dannatt, who is its president. He spoke passionately about his own experiences as a junior officer in the 1960s and 70s and his wholehearted commitment to the gospel amongst the forces today.
