Military battalion parades through Hackney in freedom exercise

Proud: Speaker Rosemary Sales meets the troops. Photograph: Hackney Council/Adam Holt

More than 150 soldiers from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion wowed onlookers as they marched through Hackney on Saturday morning to exercise their Freedom of the Borough.

The unit, celebrating its 50th anniversary, later paraded outside the Town Hall in front of dignitaries including the Speaker of Hackney Cllr Rosemary Sales.

Since moving to the borough in 2001, the battalion has assisted with civic duties and helped Hackney remember the fallen on Remembrance Sunday every year.

Instrumental: the unit has assisted with civic duties since 2001. Photograph: Hackney Council/Adam Holt

The council awarded the troops the Freedom of the Borough, its highest honour, in 2009 following a unanimous vote.

It gives the battalion the right to march through Hackney’s streets on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Nik Fairweather said it has been a “great privilege” to serve the borough: “The battalion has had tremendous support behind the scenes from the borough and people of Hackney and from the City Corporation.”

Proud: the soldiers in formation outside the Town Hall. Photograph: Hackney Council/Adam Holt

The battalion is a reserve army unit that was formed on 1 April 1967 as the volunteer-led Intelligence and Security Group. It was renamed 3 Miltary Intelligence Battalion in 1999.

The troops, many of whom have completed operational tours, were originally based in Camden before their headquarters were moved to Hackney in 2001.

In the past, personnel from the unit have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Sierra Leone, Kuwait and the Balkans.

Freedom: the unit marches through Hackney’s streets. Photograph: Hackney Council/Adam Holt

Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Rosemary Sales said: “The parade by 3 Military Intelligence Battalion helps Hackney fulfil its support for our armed forces in the community, recognises the sacrifices our armed forces face and encourages the armed forces based in Hackney to integrate into the local life of the borough.”

Hackney Council is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise from the borough to those who serve or have served, and their families, that they will be treated fairly.