The First Fusiliers lead NATO into Bosnia and the Anvil 1995-96 | British Army in the Balkans

In 1995 the First Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers deployed on operations to Bosnia as a part of the United Nations Force.

On 20 December NATO took over responsibility for Bosnia and the Fusiliers became NATO's first operational land unit moving forward into and occupying an area called the Anvil. In the Anvil two major towns, Mrkonjic Grad and Sipovo both stood empty their populations having fled. The evidence of the fighting and ethnic cleansing lay all around.

This film is in the words of a rifle platoon sergeant, Keith Armstrong, who was on that tour. He recalls occupying Mrkonjic Grad, the smell of death, the scale of the looting and destruction and finding pockets of people still living in the outer rural communities. Though not facing a war fighting foe, danger was ever present and Keith also recalls how he strayed into a minefield and needed to get himself out.

This film has been made for The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers as a part of their Fusilier Stories project. That project seeks to collect and tell the stories of fusiliers, what they and their regiment did.

The film has been made by Big ears Productions for The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
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Music is by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Lancashire and the Pipes and Drums of the Second Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

All imagery, less news cuttings anemone leaflet is courtesy of Keith Armstrong.

The film is © Big Ears Productions 2025.