I’m sure that all of us here who are UK based will have seen footage over the years of the Trooping of the Colour, we may have seen the Changing of the Guard, seen members of our Armed Forces parade on Remembrance Sunday, march through local towns and cities on returning from Afghanistan and I’m sure we’ve all seen the footage of the repatriation of the dead. Some of you reading this will have been a part of those events. But, however much we think of our Armed Forces (unless we’re closely connected) I suspect that we all largely take them for granted. They are there, just as the sun is as it rises and sets, dependable, solid, loyal and downright courageous. But I suspect for most of us, that’s where it begins and ends. That changed for me yesterday when I had occasion to visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
I saw quite a number of young men who had obviously returned from Afghanistan. Most had suffered at least one amputation, some of them multiple amputations. There were other injuries as well. As they made their way around the hospital and grounds in their wheelchairs I was struck by the obvious comradeship (I believe the Australians call it Mateship?) that they shared. The bond was clearly visible and although the effort made by some was clearly causing considerable pain, that comradeship and, it has to be said, a certain black humour, shone through.
I saw people stop and stare, not out of pity but out of admiration, gratitude and pride. These young men with their broken bodies are of the generation which will never amount to anything. I suspect that every generation thinks that of the next but the young men I saw yesterday had stepped up to the plate and were not found wanting. I saw what they amounted to yesterday and I was humbled.
Afghanistan is some 3,500 miles away, but yesterday I saw the cost at close quarters. many of us here with an interest in our military history speak of the debt we owe those who serve. As previous generations of veterans dwindle and eventually pass out of living memory, what I witnessed yesterday showed me that the debt will continue forever.
We may not support our involvement in Afghanistan but we have to support those who serve, support their courage and their endurance. For it is on the shoulders of men and women such as these that our future and our freedoms rest.
Regards,
kev35
By: Wokka Bob - 3rd June 2012 at 21:26
Well said Kev, as usual the voice of reason.
I remember returning from ops down south, to find the wife had packed all my favourite paperbacks and directed me to take them to nearby RNAY Wroughton.
We arrived, very welcome, to take these books to one of the many Wards of the survivors of Sir Galahad & Sir Tristram. We too were humbled by their comradeship and upbeat mentality.
After that, each conflict was seen in a different perspective although the pain of loss still hurts as deep. I hope the present conflict will bring just rewards to compensate for the immense suffering these boys and girls are enduring. My heart goes out to them.
By: John Green - 3rd June 2012 at 10:39
Most of us who served are pretty blase about the experience. We were paid to do our duty and that is what we did, some, with slightly more enthusiasm than others.
But, it is nice to be understatedly appreciated.
John Green
By: waco - 3rd June 2012 at 00:19
Well put Kev
Could I extend the point to cover all those who still suffer from conflict. WW II of course but also Korea, The Malaya excursion, Suez, NI (politics aside) the Falklands, Kosovo etc, etc
By: paul178 - 2nd June 2012 at 22:46
I was going to write a long monologue about this as I have before, I will just leave it as what Kev said.
By: pistonrob - 2nd June 2012 at 20:31
HEAR HEAR Kev. well expressed mate
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd June 2012 at 20:26
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Kev.
My son has just returned unscathed from his tour and has been visiting his pal, Matt Whiskin, at Birmingham. Another pal is also there, badly injured and one of his other pals (a Corporal with the QRH) sadly died there a couple of months ago.
I am thankful that my lad has come back unharmed, though having seen and experienced some horror whilst he was there. Back at home, each day was trying and the nervousness when an unusual or unkown car pulled up outside the house was something I don’t want to experience again.
Thank you for your post. This weekend we are enjoying Jubilee and homecoming parties but I am acutely aware that this has been denied a number of other families from Op Herrick 15.
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June 2, 2012 at 8:12 pm