A special reunion for PCSO Bradbury

A Derbyshire PCSO has reconnected with his past serving in the Gulf War for the British Army.

PCSO Pete Bradbury, known as Brad, joined Derbyshire Constabulary in July 2023. He’s based in Ashbourne and enjoys his role out and about engaging with people and supporting neighbourhood policing in the Dales and Derwent Valley.

He’s one of a number of our officers and staff who are also ex-Service personnel and he’s a member of the Constabulary’s Armed Forces Family Network. Veterans bring a wealth of transferrable skills and experience to policing, including discipline, mental resilience and motivation as well as the perseverance to keep going through difficult situations.

Brad served in the Gulf War in the 1991 and saw combat action.

After he left the forces, his armoured vehicle was decommissioned and ended up on the scrap heap. Years later, a Canadian museum acquired several tanks, including his. They've meticulously restored the vehicle to its original Gulf War condition and tracked down the original crew to take part in a very special reunion.

Here’s Brad’s story:

“I had the distinct honour of serving in one of the British Army's most prestigious regiments, the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers. In 1991, I was deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the coalition forces tasked with liberating Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's regime during the Gulf War.

“As a member of D Squadron, my role involved operating Striker vehicles equipped with Swingfire anti-tank missile systems. Our mission was both critical and perilous: we were tasked with neutralizing a key enemy headquarters located deep within Iraq.

“Supported by B Squadron and Scimitars, our small unit embarked on a daring operation, venturing 60 miles behind enemy lines with the objective of eliminating the command centre without detection. The success of this mission played a crucial role in enabling coalition forces to launch further assaults on enemy positions. Unfortunately, the operation came at a high cost, as we lost two brave comrades to enemy fire.

“After leaving the Army in 2008, I transitioned to civilian life, carrying with me the memories and experiences of those intense days. Then, in 2023, I received an unexpected email from the Canadian Tank Museum in Oshawa, inviting me to visit. The museum had acquired and restored several British tanks, including the very vehicle I operated during the Gulf War in 1991.

“The museum generously covered all expenses for the trip, offering me the unique opportunity to reconnect with my old vehicle after more than three decades. In July, I flew to Canada for what turned out to be a truly unforgettable experience.

“As part of the visit, I participated in a re-enactment for the public, complete with explosions and machine gun fire.

“Climbing back into my old uniform—albeit a bit snugger than I remembered—was an emotional experience that brought back a flood of memories.

“Seeing my old crewmates and standing once again beside the vehicle that had carried us through such a significant chapter of history was an indescribable privilege. It was a journey back in time, filled with camaraderie, reflection, and a profound sense of pride in the service we rendered.”