Multi-National Division (South-West) (Bosnia)

The Multi-National Division (South-West) was a military formation which formed part of IFOR, a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996, and then formed part of SFOR, another NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force, from 20 December 1996 until June 2004.

Multi-National Division (South-West)
Active1995–2004
Country United Kingdom
TypeCommand
Part ofIFOR
SFOR
Garrison/HQBanja Luka

Role

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The division's role, passed down to it by IFOR, was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina – specifically in the South-West Sector.[1] From December 1996, the role passed down by SFOR was to "deter hostilities and stabilise the peace, contribute to a secure environment by providing a continued military presence in the Area Of Responsibility (AOR), target and coordinate SFOR support to key areas including primary civil implementation organisations, and progress towards a lasting consolidation of peace, without further need for NATO-led forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina" – again specifically in the South-West Sector.[2]

Component units

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The division was based at Banja Luka and was British led: the British codename for its involvement in IFOR was Operation Resolute[3] and for its involvement in SFOR was Operation Lodestar.[4] Multi-National Division (South-West) included a British brigade (4th Mechanized Brigade from October 1995,[5] 1st Mechanized Brigade from April 1996,[6] 20th Armoured Brigade from October 1996[7] and 7th Armoured Brigade from April 1997)[8] as well as Canadian and Dutch units.[9]

Division headquarters was provided by 3 (UK) Division from December 1995 until June 1996[10] and again in January 1998 to August 1998;[11] Division headquarters was provided by 1st (UK) Armoured Division from June 1996 to December 1996[7] and again from August 1998 to March 1999.[12]

Commanders

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British Lynx Helicopter in Bosnia, May 1996

Commanders were as follows:

References

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  1. ^ The General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  2. ^ "SFOR MISSION". SFOR HQ Sarajevo: NATO. 14 January 2003. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. ^ Croft, AM; Hopkins, JP (1997). "Medical repatriations from Operation Resolute (Bosnia)". J R Army Med Corps. 143 (1): 39–43. doi:10.1136/jramc-143-01-08. PMID 9089551.
  4. ^ Britain's small wars Archived 11 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The Blue Beret (December 2000/January 2001) Archived 26 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "History of 1st Mechanized Brigade" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b Lord, p. 304
  8. ^ Fact file: 7th Armoured Brigade BBC, 20 January 2003
  9. ^ "British Forces Bosnia". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 18 July 1996. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Army senior appointments". United Kingdom Government News. 23 July 2002. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  11. ^ a b Conrad, John (2011). Scarce Heard Amid the Guns: An Inside Look at Canadian Peacekeeping. Natural Heritage Books. ISBN 978-1554889815.
  12. ^ a b 1 (UK) Armoured Division Global Security
  13. ^ "Major-General John Kiszely". SFOR. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Previous Commanders". SFOR. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  15. ^ "No. 54952". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 November 1997. p. 12931.

Sources

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