Commander issued helicopter warning weeks before Afghanistan death Be honest this isn’t really news is it. The news here is more politically motivated as we have another leak to the Conservatives, which I don’t have a problem with as long as the issue is being seriously addressed and not just played lip service to. A good Officer Rupert Thorneloe raised his concerns as was right and proper to do at the time. He is not the only Officer and NCO to raise the issue of Helicopters and he wont be the last. The other reason this helicopter story has been raised again is because sadly Colonel Thorneloe lost his life to an IED. When I served in Northern Ireland there was and area known as Bandit Country near Crossmaglen This area was deemed so dangerous that troops and police officers could not travel by road, and had to be flown in and out by helicopter. But to win an insurgency we must have boots on the ground, the Soviets had plenty of air assets and it didn’t do them much good. Remember what happened a few days ago with the US helicopter crashes and large loss of life. If the same was to happen to the British army it would have more far reaching consequences politically and military than in Washington. The bottom line is yes we need more helicopters but its not a panacea for everything in Afghanistan.
Boy, 12, was 'youngest British soldier in First World War' What an incredible story to come out of WW1. I am not justifying sending children to War, but it shows that these kids had enormous courage however misguided. Compared to some 12 year olds who are out mugging old woman and getting liver disease from alcohol abuse I know who I prefer.
PTSD Less Common Than Depression And Alcohol Misuse Amongst UK Troops This study only takes into account those that have been diagnosed with PTSD, there are many others suffering in silence, or being misdiagnosed with `Depression` that can be a diagnosis for practically everything. In my view this just makes PTSD look a smaller problem than it really is, in my opinion.
Soldiers turned away from Tiger Tiger bar for wearing uniforms This is just another case of blatant discrimination against our Armed Forces. A perfect reason to Boycott this pub. If you would like to let them know what you think about their decision contact them HERE
£6.7m tribunal payout to ex-RIR part-timers I am happy at this outcome for these brave soldiers that put their lives on the line on daily basis for having worn the Queens uniform.
Falklands veteran is band's special guest Best of luck to Simon who does a wonderful job helping raise much need money this time at a fundraising concert being performed by the Band of the Royal Marines.
I would like to make it 100% crystal clear that this Blog does not support the EDL (ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE) I have removed all posts referring to this organisation.
Nimrod compensation offer 'insulting' Bill Rammell met them after the damning Haddon-Cave report was published, he treated the event "like any other ordinary meeting" and "kept looking at his watch". It’s a pity that the whole of the Labour Party were not onboard the doomed aircraft! I Wonder if the watch Rammel was looking at was paid for by his expenses?
Yacht seized by pirates found empty Any Pirates sorry (Theiving scum that use boats) that are found by any navy should be executed, time to stop pussy footing with these sea borne vermin.
Farnborough Gurkha takes pensions battle to High Court LAWYERS for a Farnborough Gurkha society have accused the Ministry of Defence of failing in its duty to give fair pension payments to thousands of Gurkhas. The said lawyers are 100% accurate, the MOD should stop being `Racist` and treat these brave men like the rest of the British Army, sounds like another job for Joanna Lumley.
No court martial over 'beasting' death RIP Pte Williams. I myself have been subjected to this kind of beasting, without going to extremes this can have the desired affect from the Army’s point of view ie. Discipline . I’m sure the NCOs that beasted this unfortunate soldier feel terrible and obviously never envisaged this outcome.
PM angers SSAFA Forces Help volunteers When asked how he was going to help the Forces in future he made a silly grin and said “Just like that.” You would have thought he would have worn a fez?
“RAF inundated with high tech kit and over funding, or Royal Navy hasn’t got room for her fleet and complain of too high pay. Or Army says Please stop sending troops to Afghanistan we now have over two million and far to much air power and sophisticated weapons and too much air conditioning.
I suppose the press could just print headlines like this anyway as they don’t seem to let truth get in the way!
Service Personnel Encouraged To Vote I doubt if the Labour party will be encouraging them to vote, as most of them would surely vote the Socialists out of office?
HMS Scott Deploys To Antarctic I suppose serving on a ship with such and illustrious name you cant expect to be on a jolly to the Caribbean chasing pirates. Oh yeah and partying and sunbathing!
Hundreds will gather at Motherwell Cathedral in Lanarkshire to mark the contribution made by servicemen and women in the conflicts. British troops killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be commemorated today at a special memorial service. Hundreds will gather at Motherwell Cathedral in Lanarkshire to mark the contribution made by servicemen and women in the conflicts. Politicians and faith leaders will join relatives at the event led by Bishop Joseph Devine tonight, when 800 people are expected to gather for a series of prayers, hymns and readings.Read The Rest HereRIP
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, Britain mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.
This 19 year old ex-cheerleader (now an Air Force Security Forces Sniper) was watching a road that led to a NATO military base when she observed a man digging by the road. She engaged the target (i.e., she shot him).
It turned out he was a bomb maker for the Taliban, and he was burying an IED that was to be detonated when a US patrol walked by 30 minutes later.
It would have certainly killed and wounded several soldiers.
The interesting fact of this story is the shot was measured at 725 yards. She shot him as he was bent over burying the bomb. The shot went through his butt and into the bomb which detonated; he was blown to pieces. The Air Force made a motivational poster of her:
(Folks, that's a shot 25 yards longer than seven football fields!) And the last thing that came out of his mouth ... was his rear!
If You Can Not Stand Behind Our Troops, Please Feel Free To Stand In Front Of Them!
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Corporal Thomas 'Tam' Mason from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak Hospital, on Sunday 25 October 2009.Corporal Mason was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated during an operation in Kandahar province on 15 September 2009. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, both in theatre and back in the UK, over a period of nearly six weeks, he sadly died as a result of his wounds. Read The Rest Here RIP
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, Britain mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.
Those that have never experienced War will always think War a good idea,
Tony McNally
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The Union flag does not fly because the wind moves past it. The Union flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died protecting it. British servicemen and women don't fight because they hate what's in front of them...they fight because they love what's behind them.
A quarter of homeless people are ex-services and 5,000 former service personnel are in prison.
The Red Poppy Company.
Did you know that each year an average of ten Falklands veterans commit suicide, this means that more soldiers have killed themselves since the end of that war than the fewer than two hundred and fifty eight who died during it.
(Source: Times cover story 12/11/02)
A "tsunami" of mental health problems resulting from the war in Iraq is "headed our way," - -
