The excessively rare and well documented British Liaison Team in Kuwait serviceman’s Iraq Invasion of Kuwait 2nd August 1990 captive and ‘Human Shield’s Gulf Medal 1990-1991, Clasp: 2 August 1990, awarded to Warrant Officer 1st Class B.J. Wickett, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Wicket, an arabic speaker, joined the British Liaison Team in Kuwait in November 1989. On 2nd August 1990, Iraq invaded its smaller southern neighbour, the oil-rich state of Kuwait, in a dispute over oil production levels, ownership of underground oil reserves and Iraq’s considerable debt to Kuwait for the latter’s financing of much of Iraq’s war effort during the 1980 to 1988 Iran-Iraq War. On the first day of hostilities, some 150,000 Iraqi troops overwhelmed Kuwait’s 17,000 man Army and imposed Iraqi rule, declaring Kuwait to be Iraq’s 19th province. Some 38 British Army personnel, members of the Kuwait Liaison Team attached to the Kuwaiti Forces, were caught up in the invasion, captured and used as ‘Human Shields’ around key Iraqi installation from September until their release in early December 1990. These 38 service personnel were later granted the Gulf Medal 1990-1991 with the rare clasp ‘2 August 1990’, this being one of the rarest post-1945 British campaign awards issued. For his part, Wickett and is family went to ground following the Iraqi invasion of 2nd August 1990. At the end of the same month, however, they were arrested - ‘they came to get us very quickly, surrounded the block and started to break the door in’. Separated from his wife and children at the beginning of September, when they were put on board a flight to England from Baghdad, he was taken to a hydro-electricity and irrigation complex, about 40 km from the Iranian border, as part of Saddam Hussein’s “human shield”. There, with three other British hostages, he was moved around the site on three occasions, firstly to the neighbouring village, then to the power house and finally to a caravan near the top of the dam, this latter being only 25 metres from anti-aircraft guns. His surviving letters home to his family, provide an insight into his life, feelings and state whilst a hostage, and whilst in captivity he wrote an ‘Ode to Saddam’ entitled ‘Why are we Here?’ This poem was subsequently published in various newspapers at the time. Wickett and the other British hostages were eventually released from captivity and returned home for Christmas 1990, and the following year the First Gulf War occurred, which ousted the Iraqi’s from Kuwait.
Gulf Medal 1990-1991, Clasp: 2 August 1990; (24170241 WO1 B J WICKETT REME), still with its affixed hook from time of presentation. With the named card box of issue, also stamped with the clasp issued for 2 August 1990. This box is excessively rare, even more than the medal.
Condition: Extremely Fine.
Together with the following related documentation, photographs and ephemera:
Regular Army Certificate of Service Red Book, issued to: 24170241 Barry John Wickett, dated 9th July 1993.
British Army Letter of Thanks for Services, issued on his discharge after 23 years’ loyal service, typed details to: ‘Warrant Officer 1 Barry John Wickett’.
Group photograph of the British Liaison Team Kuwait, all men are annotated with their ranks and names, as taken during the visit by the Chief of the Defence Staff on 6th February 1990. Wickett is identified second row sixth from right.
Thank you card from the Children of Kuwait, given in the aftermath of his support for Kuwait at the time of the Iraqi Invasion.
Three original and most evocative letters penned home to his family whilst he was a hostage of the Iraqis. All written on Hotel Al-Mansour Melia Tradition and Hospitality headed note paper, dated respectively: 13th September 1990, 21st September 1990, and 6th October 1990. All quite lengthy and of two large pages, with considerably more content than mentioned in the writeup below.
Typed poem, penned by Wickett during this time spent as a hostage of Saddam Husein’s forces and held in Baghdad, it being an ‘Ode to Saddam’ by a British Hostage and titled ‘Why are we here?’ This signed in biro by Wickett.
Original and copied newspaper cuttings reference his time held as a hostage.
Barry John Wickett was born on 15th April 1953, and enlisted into the British Army at Surbiton on 9th December 1969, joining as a Craftsman (No.24170241) the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and specialised as a vehicle mechanic. He also became proficient as a yachtsman, qualifying as an offshore skipper in May 1985, and gained an arabic language certificate in October 1989. During his service, Wickett is known to have deployed to Northern Ireland between February and June 1977, and hence is also entitled to the medal for this campaign.
In November 1989, Wickett, by then a Warrant Officer 1st Class, joined the British Liaison Team in Kuwait. On 2nd August 1990, Iraq invaded its smaller southern neighbour, the oil-rich state of Kuwait, in a dispute over oil production levels, ownership of underground oil reserves and Iraq’s considerable debt to Kuwait for the latter’s financing of much of Iraq’s war effort during the 1980 to 1988 Iran-Iraq War. On the first day of hostilities, some 150,000 Iraqi troops overwhelmed Kuwait’s 17,000 man Army and imposed Iraqi rule, declaring Kuwait to be Iraq’s 19th province.
Some 38 British Army personnel, members of the Kuwait Liaison Team attached to the Kuwaiti Forces, were caught up in the invasion, captured and used as ‘Human Shields’ around key Iraqi installation from September until their release in early December 1990. These 38 service personnel were later granted the Gulf Medal 1990-1991 with the rare clasp ‘2 August 1990’, this being one of the rarest post-1945 British campaign awards issued.
Of Wickett’s personal experiences, following the Iraqi invasion of 2nd August 1990 he and his family went to ground. At the end of the same month, however, they were arrested - ‘they came to get us very quickly, surrounded the block and started to break the door in’. Separated from his wife and children at the beginning of September, when they were put on board a flight to England from Baghdad, he was taken to a hydro-electricity and irrigation complex, about 40 km from the Iranian border, as part of Saddam Hussein’s “human shield”. There, with three other British hostages, he was moved around the site on three occasions, firstly to the neighbouring village, then to the power house and finally to a caravan near the top of the dam, this latter being only 25 metres from anti-aircraft guns.
Whilst held a hostage, Wickett’s wrote home to his wife and two children, who had been evacuated home. The letter, written whilst a hostage on Hotel Al-Mansour Melia Tradition and Hospitality headed note paper, is dated 13th September 1990.
He wrote: ‘Mr Dearest Darling Lynette, Shane and Mia,
I hope you received my last letter dated 5 Sep. I am fine and slowly getting fitter. I am running every day and should be nice and slim when I get home. I heard a message on the radio from Lynette to Barry. I thought that was from you and it made me very happy. We are listening to Gulf Link everyday and it really boosts out morale. Please try and leave a phone message as it would be great to hear your voices. Give my love to Mum, Dad and family and tell them not to worry. We are praying everyday and I’ve got complete faith that I will return home safely. We must just be patient… I have been playing a lot of chess and cards. We also have Master Quiz and Dominos. We have a T.V. in our house and there are a few films on in English. Last night I watched a Kirk Douglas film. The biggest problem is boredom but we find the time is passing quite quickly. We are well looked after and are quite safe! Every time I sleep I dream about you and it makes me feel close to you… We are all hoping and praying that these problems resolve themselves soon and with no more loss of life. Life is too precious to waste and that’s why I am taking care of myself so that I arrive back to you all in one piece… I hope to see you in the not too distant future. Look after yourselves and keep smiling.’
On 21st September 1990 he wrote again and highlights the boredom experienced, along with a sense that the hostage situation is beginning to get to him: ‘We are still listening to the news regularly but nothing seems to happen to give us any hope of coming home. It seems to be a situation that cold go on for a long time… Are we still getting paid? Everyone here is worrying about the money side of things…I am missing you all terribly and am longing to come home. We just live from day to day as there is no hope for the future at the moment. We all know we will get home safely but when, is the question .Every night I have vivid dreams about home and all my family. You are in my dreams Lynette and when I wake up and find you are not with me I feel really depressed. Everyday has its peaks and troughs with the slightest bit of new on the radio changing our moods completely depending on whether it’s good or bad. The worst part of the day for me is the afternoon. Most people have a sleep and I try and find something to do to stop me becoming depressed. At 5.30 in the afternoon we listen to BFBS for half an hour and after that it’s a quick walk then a shower and TV. We get the English news on the TV and out meal is at 8 o’clock. After that it is all round the radio for Gulflink at 8.45 at night. After that we play cards or dominoes or watch TV. ‘Cannon’ is on every night here in English. Also a programme called the ‘Love Boat’. Well that’s my day mapped out. Exciting isn’t it!! Please look after yourselves and stay happy. I love and miss you all more than I can express. But it won’t be forever…’
Wickett’s final surviving letter from his time in captivity was written on 6th October 1990. This was in fact his fourth letter and he includes this in his writing, he having first written on the 5th September. This letter appears to me more positive in nature. He writes to his wife: ‘I know you are only 6 1/2 hours flying time away so as soon as this problem is sorted out I will be with you…’
Whilst in captivity he wrote an ‘Ode to Saddam’ entitled ‘Why are we Here?’ This poem was subsequently published in various newspapers at the time.
Christmas is a time of good cheer
I ask myself, why are we here?
This time of the year we should be at home
Not miles away celebrating alone!
Families together, those we hold dear
I ask myself, why are we here?
I give thanks to God for my life
But shouldn’t this time be spent with my wife?
As a father I wish my children were near
I ask myself, why are we here?
I pray for the day when we’ll be released
I pray for peace in the Middle East
Christmas is a time of good cheer,
I ask myself, why are we here?
It’s not too late to resolve this, then
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men!
Wickett was finally released in mid-December 1990, and flown home to be reunited with his wife and two children in time for Christmas. His release was widely covered in the newspapers. He was discharged from the British Army at Southampton on 5th May 1993.
