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August 13
Three soldiers killed in Afghanistan
13 Aug 09
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that three British soldiers, two from The 2nd Battalion The Rifles and a third from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery have died following an explosion while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand Province this morning, Thursday 13 August 2009.
 Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said:
"Today has been incredibly sad for the whole of Task Force Helmand, and particularly for The Rifles battlegroup, with whom all 3 soldiers were serving.
"We will all feel the loss of these brave soldiers, but it is their family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers."
Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth said:
"The loss of these brave men, and of all those who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, is a tragedy.
"It brings us very close to the sad milestone of 200 fatalities in this conflict. We cannot help but reflect on the toll the mission has taken on our people and their families and friends.
"But we must also keep in the forefront of our minds how important it is to the security of this country and its citizens.
"So many young men and women have been injured or given their lives to ensure that Afghanistan does not fall back into the hands of the extremists and the terrorists who seek to threaten us and our interests. We must succeed. And we will."
Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.
August 07 21 years ago today you came into our lives. I am so very proud of the man you have become. A soldier fighting for the freedom of others. Who would have thought all those years ago you would make such an impression on the people around you. My heart & soul are with you right now Kev, son we look at the same stars in the sky, we your family are with you right now. I love you so very much son, I know today isn't going to be easy for you so far away from home, but we are in your heart so really not so far away. We are thinking of you Kev and we will celebrate your 21st when you get home properly.
Keep safe & we will see you soon. We all love you so very much and are so very very proud of you xxxx August 01
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Afghan troop amputations total 51 |
Army surgeons have faced an especially busy month in July |
Some 51 members of the UK armed forces had limbs amputated by 31 March 2009 after being wounded in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.
But the official tally does not include recent months, which have seen heavy casualties among UK service personnel.
Col Richard Kemp, ex-commander of UK troops in Afghanistan, told the Sunday Mirror the toll was "shockingly high".
A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in the first two weeks of July, compared with 46 in all of June and 24 in May.
The Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "As of 31 March 2009, a total of 51 UK service personnel have suffered amputations due to injuries sustained while on operational deployment on Operation Herrick."
Col Kemp told the Sunday Mirror: "This is a shockingly high ratio of the number of British troops deployed at any one time in Afghanistan."
Of the injuries in the first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded.
July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began.
In total, the number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 191.
The rise in injuries and deaths came as coalition forces completed the first phase of their heaviest offensive yet - Operation Panther's Claw - against the Taliban ahead of elections on 20 August. | July 30
The war has aged you son, beyond your years. As your 21st birthday approaches I think of all you have achieved and done with your life. As a family we are so very proud of you. You are one amazing young man. My heart is filled with pride.
I look forward to telling you face to face when you come home, yet another week is drawing to an end.
We will all be here waiting for you and celebrate your birthday when you come home.
I love you son. Keep strong look after yourself and your men. Keep safe Kev.
xxxx
mumsy July 20 As today draws to an end I think son we have made it through another day.
Every morning the last few months I have woken to think Yes we have made it through another night.
There is barely a minute that goes by I dont think of our boys out in that hell hole.
Last week My dad and I went to Wootton Bassett to see 8 of our boys come home. 5 of which were from our regiment. A truely sad day which will stay with me for ever.
We have lost 9 of our lads from our regiment, one of which my son was with when he died.
My heart broke to think I wasnt there for him and to think of all the pain our fallen hero's families are going through.
So many have been lost in this war, I so wish it would all stop.
To all our brave lads & lasses out there you are all so very brave.
My thoughts are with with all 24/7.
I love you son so very much and am so very proud of you. Keep safe. xxxx
Rest in peace our fallen heros you will never be forgotten for the sacrfice you have made and your families will forever be in our hearts.
April 11 My lad is at his final destination. Apart from the fact he was bitten by a nasty and has a large swelling all is well.
Focused and going about his job.
Back home I am doing my mumsy thing and of worrying, not just for my boy but for all of them out there.
Keep safe son
Love you xxx April 03 My lad is now in Afghanistan 
But I have just spoken to him and all is well. Very tired but all is good yay!!!! March 28 THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS
WHAT MANNER OF MEN ARE THESE
THE BLACK MAFIA THEY ARE OFTEN NAMED
THESE MEN OF THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS
AND WITH THE USE OF A RIFLE THEY ARE FAMED
TO JOIN THEIR RANKS YOU HAVE TO PROVE
YOU CAN PASS THE COURSE WITHOUT A TEAR
TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
TO FIGHT BY THEIR SIDES AND SHOW NO FEAR
THESE MEN ARE HARD BUT STILL CAN SHOW
COMPASSION TO A BEATEN FOE
THEY FIGHT HARD AND FIGHT TO WIN
SURRENDER IS A WORD THEY DO NOT KNOW
THE GREEN JACKET IS HARD TO BEAT
THEY ARE WARRIORS OF A SPECIAL BREED
SWIFT AND BOLD IS THEIR MOTTO
AND SWIFT AND BOLD THEY ARE INDEED
IF YOU HAVE ONE FOR A FRIEND
THEN A FRIEND INDEED HE WILL BE TOO
TREAT HIM RIGHT AND YOU WILL FIND
THAT HE WILL SACRIFICE HIMSELF FOR YOU
THESE MEN HAVE A CODE OF HONOUR
THAT YOU MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND
BUT ONCE YOU GET TO KNOW THEM
YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE PART OF THAT BAND
SWIFT & BOLD March 22 I have had the most wonderful weekend with my family. My lad is about to deploy to Afghan and this weekend was about family and our goodbye's. We have laughed and had such a lovely weekend.
Tomorrow I will say goodbye to my son. Tonight its just us.
Tomorrow I will watch him walk away.
He is in high spirits and totally focused on the job he has to do. To say I am proud of him is simply not enough. My heart feels as though it will explode.
To see your son go off to a war zone is something I cannot explain. The dread, the pride.The man he is. No one can ever take away the pride I feel.
We have talked about his wishes should the worst happen. Its something us families have to do, horrible as it is it has to be done. Once its done you just live with the hope you will never have to put it into action.
Tonight I shall go to bed wishing we didnt have to face tomorrow.
I love you son and where ever you are we your family will always be thinking of you and your fellow soldiers.
Keep that focus, do your job and come home to us.
Always stand proud. Swift & Bold.
Love mumsy xxxxxxxxx March 05
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Hurt City fan was 'home from war'
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Police released a photo of Chris Jones, in intensive care |
A Cardiff City fan who was left with life-threatening injuries in an assault had returned from serving with the army in Afghanistan, it has emerged.
Police have issued a photo of Chris Jones, 21, from Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, who is in a serious but stable condition in intensive care.
He was attacked on Saturday in Southampton, where he had gone to watch Cardiff play in the Championship.
Fans are raising money for Mr Jones' partner who is due to give birth soon.
Neil Macdonald, a Cardiff City supporter who organised Tuesday night's collection, said he wanted to help because he too will serve in Afghanistan, when he is sent there with the RAF in August.
He said Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale had given permission for a collection to be made during Cardiff's home game against Barnsley.
"We've already raised £454 donated by 35 different fans," he told BBC Radio Wales.
Mr Jones had served in Afghanistan with the army |
"It sort of hit me. He survived Afghanistan and comes back to be attacked in this country."
Hampshire Police said Mr Jones fractured his skull and broke his cheekbone after he was knocked to the ground with a single blow during the assault.
Officers said Mr Jones had headed to the the Chapel Arms pub after 1500 GMT after he had been refused entry to St Mary's stadium before kick off.
They said a fight broke out between Mr Jones and a white man at around 1530 GMT Andersons Road, which is near the pub.
Mr Jones is currently in Southampton General Hospital and police have released pictures of him in intensive care.
'Disagreement'
Det Insp Linda Howard, from Shirley CID, who is leading the investigation, said the assault did not appear to be football-related.
"We believe the victim received one blow to the head causing him to fall to the ground and as a result has sustained some very serious injuries including a fractured skull and broken cheekbone," she said.
"We don't think this was a pre-arranged fight involving Cardiff and Saints fans, but we do know the victim received a single blow to the head after a disagreement with another man and we are very keen to try and trace this other person and speak to them about what happened."
She added they would also like to speak to anyone else who was in the area at the time of the assault.
Jones's family talk about their worries as they remain by his bedside.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7921906.stm
Best wishes to Chris, his family & his partner, I hope Chris makes a speedy recovery.xx
The other people in this pub need to speak up and give up the name of the monster who did this.
| March 02 And so Predeployment leave is over and he is back in barracks. Turned up side down by another Gerrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
Things are so very different now. I saw him for a short time one evening, we had a talk.......... well I did the talking I dont think he was really listening or the slightest bit interested in what I was saying, other things on his mind. He came by for Sunday dinner and slept off his hangover, followed by a lift to the airport.
But hey ho........... down that road we travel again in just a few weeks he will be on his way to the most dangerous place on earth.
I will find my own way of coping and get wound up at how uninterested people are as we bring our men home in body bags.
Cant really explain the thoughts & feelings you get before deployment, well I could but as I have learnt there are very few people you can actually talk about them with. Some are pretty black I'd say and you get a feeling of not being normal, but I am pretty normal and its being scared of what the next 6/7 months has in store for the troops of 19th Light Brigade.
For us back home we too will not sleep soundly, and there will be points where we get to the point of boarding on hysteria, then we will get a grip and carry on until the next crack appears. Dont think I'm explaining myself to well really. Its like being in limbo, you do the normal day to day things but its as though your not really there. Weird. Its strange how you battle with yourself with trying to stay positive but the same time try to prepare yourself for the news you hope never to hear.
I dont want to say goodbye this time....... it sounds final. I know what I'm going to say and it wont be good bye son.
December 24 I would like to wish you all a very merry, peaceful & safe Christmas. May 2009 be a good year fro us all.
To all our service men & women serving in Afghanistan & Iraq may you all have a quiet peaceful Christmas and return home soon safely to your loved ones. xxxxxxxxxxx
December 20
Turkey-laden truck blown up
Taliban insurgents blew up a lorry packed with Christmas turkeys bound for British troops in Afghanistan.
Christmas cheer was put under threat when the frozen birds were destroyed in an explosion en route from Pakistan to Camp Bastion.
The consignment of turkey roll breasts weighing 325kg was intended for troops stationed at Britain's main base in Helmand Province, where up to 3,000 soldiers will spend the festive season. December 17 Picked my lad up from the airport this evening. Yay!!!!! home for Christmas. Chuffed to bits.
Now washing his uniform as its covered in the works Christmas dinner....lol flying christmas puds & sprouts.
All good & christmasy mood in full swing.  December 16
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Happy Christmas!
It has been an amazing year and I thought I would write a very brief summary of 2008 as well as a thank you and a look forward to 2009.
We hope to have topped £15 million by Christmas Day. That is quite simply a phenomenal amount of money to have raised in 15 months and there are too many people to thank individually but some of the key moments have been the Princes at City Salute, our Big Battlefield Bike Ride, the amazing Hero Ball, the rugby at Twickenham and of course, X Factor.
We were really delighted to receive our Platinum Disc of X Factor for the wall of the office and are able to boast that we were part of the success of the fastest selling record of the year and the biggest charity single of the decade. We are very grateful to Simon Cowell and all who worked on the single and will be announcing how much it made in the New Year when we will be able to share the proceeds with the Poppy Appeal.
These ‘red letter’ events may have been highlights of the year but every event, however grand or modest, has played its part in the success of H4H to date. Children have forgone birthday presents, people have climbed mountains, run marathons, shaved their legs, parachuted, baked cakes, sold heirlooms, washed cars, eaten chocolate… too many things to even begin cataloguing but all equally valued and appreciated; thank you everyone.
We are putting the money to good use, a total of £12.5million has already been allocated to build facilities at Headley Court, to provide additional treatment rooms at Combat Stress and to help SSAFA provide a ‘home from home’ for the wounded’s relatives. We are helping fund adaptive adventure training and several other simple but highly effective initiatives that will directly support our wounded and can be read about in more depth on our website pages.
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Our appeal to the people of Great Britain to ‘do your bit’ to support the wounded has been well and truly heard and you are getting out there and making it very clear that there is wonderful support for the Armed Forces. You are not stopping there; we already have events being registered for as far ahead as October 2009 and I urge you to get inventive and ‘step up to the line in 2009’.
One signature event for 2009 is our Band of Brothers Bike. We will be riding through Normandy and then on to Paris with 300 riders, including wounded servicemen and women, to raise money for the cause. We start from Portsmouth on 24th May and the places are filling fast so if you want to take part in something that you will remember for your whole life, go to our website now and register. If that doesn’t tick your box, then how about joining us as we climb Kilimanjaro or do the desert challenge in the Sahara…. See the website and sign up now!
If you are looking for Christmas presents, we have a huge range of items in our on line shop and lots of Hero Bears looking for a home so please think about adopting a Hero Bear for Christmas.
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So what next, surely its time to put our feet up in the knowledge that we have done a good job and it is time to relax?.... No, that’s not the H4H way!
With the facilities at Headley Court due to benefit from our £8m and government’s £24m, our attention for 2009 will move on to helping the wounded post Headley Court.
There are plans to create six Army Convalescent Centres in the major ‘super garrison’ towns of Edinburgh, Tidworth, Aldershot, Catterick, Colcester and Sennelager in Germany. These houses will provide a ‘launch pad to life’ for the wounded and give them the opportunities to learn new skills, have some breathing space and then get going on the next chapter of their lives. We would very much like to help and will be announcing a major fund raising appeal in the New Year.
Finally, I just want to say something on a personal note. Emma and I are doing this for the same reason you are, we simply want to help. It was wonderful therefore to be at an event to receive a very big cheque on Monday night and to see Peter Dunning there. Nothing special about that you say? Actually yes, there was as you see, Peter lost both his legs this summer in Afghanistan and we visited him at Selly Oak shortly afterwards. To see him standing proudly on his prosthetic legs, being introduced to the Duke of Edinburgh, was a wonderful moment and makes everything we have done this year make sense.
So, thank you for all you have done, you have been wonderful. So have a great Christmas and happy New Year. We very much hope that you will join us again next year and that together we will, as they say, Crack On!!
With thanks and very best wishes
Bryn and Emma
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Turf Cutting at Headley Court
The Military Awards
Rugby Challenge Match - Now on DVD
Official H4H Mascot - Now with army uniform
The Shop - Exciting new products
Band of Brother Bike Ride
H4H Challenges - Kilimanjaro
H4H Challenges - The Desert Challenge
H4H Challenges - Lands End to John O’ Groats
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Turf Cutting at Headley Court
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 The 11th December was a real Red Letter Day for Help for Heroes. We assembled at Headley Court and were delighted to invite the Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton MP, to dig a hole to symbolise the start of work on the Help for Heroes Rehabilitation Complex. It was particularly poignant and relevant to be joined by Ben Parkinson and Derek Derenalagi at the short ceremony. Derek was in the ward at Selly Oak last August when Bryn and Emma first visited the hospital and were so moved they decided to try to raise funds to help the wounded and Ben is the most injured serviceman ever to survive such terrible injuries. The complex will house a state of the art swimming pool, gymnasium and treatment centre and we are assured by Defence Estates, who will oversee the project, that it will be a ‘legacy to the nation’, a facility of which all our wonderful donors can be truly proud. Help for Heroes is very simple, it is about doing something practical to help people like Ben and Derek. We understand we are powerless to prevent war and we can not stop our blokes getting hurt but we are not helpless, we can do something, we can help and we are helping by doing all the mad things we have all done over the last few months that have helped raise £15m. You, with a bit of help from Royalty, Sportsmen, celebrities and the media, have done this, you have raised the money and you are the owners of this great new facility.... well done! This was the first task we were given when we set up H4H last year and it is great to feel that it is now underway and soon our boys and girls will have the use of such a superb facility. This is not all we are doing though, this is just the first of so many essential projects that will enhance the recovery of our brave men and women. So, thanks for helping us get to this moment, you have all helped make this possible but please keep going, keep running, collecting, cycling, selling, keep helping... Our Heroes need you. Thank you. |
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The Military Awards
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 Prince Charles suggested that there ought to be an award ceremony to acknowledge the Armed Forces, The Sun has taken the idea and the first Millies are to be held at Hampton Court on Tuesday 16th Dec with Sky One covering the event on 18th Dec at 8 pm. Help for Heroes have been nominated under the category of ‘best support to the Armed Forces’ and Emma and Bryn have been invited to represent everyone in the team. It is a great honour to be recognised even if it is very embarrassing to be standing alongside the real Heroes of the three services. Thanks everyone who has made H4H the National Institution it now is; you all deserve an award! |
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Help for Heroes Rugby Challenge Match - Now on DVD
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 Re-live every magic moment of the Help for Heroes Rugby Challenge Match, which took place on that gloriously sunny day at Twickenham on 20th September 2008. This superb commemorative DVD features the full length match plus some very special highlights and interviews and plays for over 2 hours.
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Official H4H Mascot - Now with army uniform
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 Hero’s blog has become the latest hot spot. One day just an ordinary bear, one of many on Louisa’s bed and now, Hero, celebrity combat bear, H4H mascot, friend of the famous and loved by thousands. Have a look at his adventures and then let everyone know about him and let us see if we can make money for the wounded by selling thousands of his friends.
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| Do some Christmas shopping at H4H
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 Emma has been very busy sourcing exciting new products for the shop, and for all those ladies out there, we now have Help for Heroes Chocolate. Our latest new products are: Slant Pads, Stick Notes, Diaries, Copper and Silver Bangles, Wool Scarf, Hero Figurine, Hero Prints and our very own Hero Teddy with Army uniform.
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Band of Brothers Bike Ride
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 Need a New Years Resolution? - Here's one, Get fit and Help our Heroes. Perfect ! Sign up to The Band of Brothers Bike Ride and you have a chance to be one of the riders. 300 of us will ride through the Normandy battlefields to commemorate the Allies’ liberation of Europe 65 years ago. With us will be teams from our Allies of today, wounded servicemen from America, Canada and France as well as our own from Headley Court.
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| H4H Challenges - Kilimanjaro
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 If cycling isn’t your thing, or you did that with us this year, how about climbing Killie? The numbers are limited but a hardy team from H4H are going to take on Africa’s tallest mountain, its very high, very challenging so why not rise to the challenge and join us?
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| H4H Challenges - The Desert Challenge
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 To the Sahara for a trek across the desert with the experts. We will be taking a group to experience the desert with all its challenges and then throwing some extra ones in! A team of desert specialists will come along to teach us how to survive so, if you loved Lawrence of Arabia, here’s your chance to see what its like!
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H4H Challenges - Lands End to John O’ Groats
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 The so called LEJOG is the cycling challenge that all cyclists have to do once in their lives and this is a chance to do it and raise money for H4H... Just think, Lycra for days on end!
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|  December 13 This week a sadly we lost several soldiers, 4 of them in one day. 4 Marines in AFghan, one in Iraq and a young female soldier died whilst on a traing camp in Austria.
The pain their families and friends must be feeling right now.
Earlier today i watched a sad film in which a soldier was killed in action during the Iraq war 2003, the family were told the sad news on christmas eve, from there on they stopped celebrating chritmas. I will mit i shed a tear.
Anyway....... 9 years on the dad had a strange feeling, and decided it was time to celebrate christmas. Whilst out gting decorations he came across a young man hitching A lift, he stopped and picked the man up, the man said he was an ex soldier........ as the story goes on the hitchhiker appears to know things about the son they lost.
To cut a long story short........ its their son, bringing peace and closure to the family, though the dad only realises it when he drops him back at the highway and they chat for the last time get the chance to say good bye.
A few years ago now I lost some who was so close to my heart, I was devastated when he died. I so wanted to see him one last time to speak to him..... like they show in the movies. Its not like that though is it. Where do they go? A better place? everyone should have the chance to say a proper good bye. A sad world we live in.
December 09 PLUME OF FEATHERS CHRISTMAS DRAW
The Plume of Feathers, Sherborne is supporting Operation Parcel share by holding a Christmas draw.
All proceeds from the draw will go towards making up parcels for our brave men and women of our County regiment The Rifles who are serving in Afghanistan.
I am the mother of a serving soldier in 2 Rifles and I have been sending parcels out to Afghanistan & Iraq for just over a year, I rely on the support of the public when it comes to items and donations for the parcels/shoe boxes/etc.
I am hoping to encourage the people of Sherborne to become more involved and therefore asking local businesses to get involved with Operation Parcel Share by contributing to the Plume of Feathers Christmas Draw prizes.
Any local business’s who wish to contribute to the draw prizes will be sent a receipt if required and the end results of the draw.
The draw consists of a grid with numbers which are being sold for £1 a number, the numbers will be drawn by Lcpl Hudson of 2 Rifles at The Plume of Feathers on Sunday 21st December at 7.30pm.
An average parcel costs around £5 and is made up of things like Nuts/Raisins,
Crisps/Snacks, Lollipops, Biscuits, drink sachets/coffee, hot choc, mini jams/ chewing gum, sweets(no chocolate),Toiletry Items e.g. wipes, hand gel shower gel, soap etc, boxer shorts/socks/gloves, Puzzle books, pens, small tins of fruit, tinned ham, fish, mini cereals, tea bags, sugar cubes/sachets,etc and importantly letters from well wishers.
These will be sent throughout the 2009 to 1 & 2 Rifles serving in Afghanistan.
Please show your support for our brave men & women serving on the front line.
Thank you
PLUME OF FEATHERS
CHRISTMAS DRAW
CHRISTMAS DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER 7.30pm
Numbers will be drawn by
Lcpl Hudson of 2 Rifles.
So come along and show your support for our county regiment.
Also your chance to show you care and send a message of support to our brave men & women … which will be sent in future parcels.
Draw Tickets £1.00 a number.
Operation parcel share
Opparcelshare@aol.com Well my lad has passed his Junior guns course at Breacon.......... not an easy course.
Well done son, Grandad and I are very proud of you, only 20 and look at what you have achieved. Stand proud lad.
I know you looked forward to going back to NI, and being with the lads, though I am glad you weren't there this weekend I do feel for the lads. Hope things will settle down soon and D is ok. He's a good lad son so look out for him.
We are looking forward to next week and the start of Xmas leave YAY!!!! will have the tree up, mince pies in the oven, bottle of something nice and hopefully a good film lol.
Your bro is in bed with a belly like the grinch lol....tummy bug I think. STill best get it out the way in time for the festivities.
We will have a good one son. No talk of your pending tour, just think of now.
Swift & bold son, spk soon xxxxxx December 03
What can anyone say???? what spirit, what guts this young man has. This is what the British army is made up of..... spirit, guts, bravery, determination, pride the list is endless. They are true hero's. We owe them our total respect. Keep shining Tom, your an inspiration to all those around you. xxxx
. By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
Steps of a hero
Determination ... Tom Neathway, centre, walks to collect medal .............................photo Arthur Edwards
HERO Para Tom Neathway steps up to collect a medal from Prince Charles yesterday — despite losing three limbs in Afghanistan.
The proud moment was the target the 25-year-old sniper had fought for ever since he was blown up by a Taliban booby-trap bomb last July.
L/Cpl Tom has amazed doctors with his determination to walk again after the loss of both legs and his left arm.
So proud ... Tom gets medal from Prince
Arthur Edwards
And yesterday he stood side-by-side with the rest of his war-weary unit, the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, to receive campaign medals from the Prince — their Colonel in Chief. Tom, of Worcester, grinned broadly as he walked off the parade ground at Merville Barracks in Colchester, Essex, on his new prosthetic legs.
He was the first of eight seriously-wounded paras decorated by the Prince. In all, 500 soldiers from 2, 3 and 4 Para received medals from Charles and wife Camilla.
Addressing the troops, the Prince said of the eight: “They set an amazing example.”
The Sun revealed three months ago that Tom is only the second triple amputee British serviceman in the past 30 years.
He also lost a testicle and part of a thumb to the bomb, hidden by a sandbag.
Yesterday was the first time family and pals had seen him walk on his new legs.
Tom said after the parade: “Today was a bit of a milestone. It wasn’t hard to do but it was hard to be able to do. It’s taken months, but I was always going to do it. My next goal is to get back to work.”
Delighted dad Alan, a 57-year-old builder, said: “It was very emotional. His mum and I were so proud. I always knew Tom would walk again. He’s an amazing kid.”
Last Sunday The Sun arranged for Tom to meet his Chelsea FC heroes John Terry and Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
TO help wounded troops, give to the Sun-backed charity Help for Heroes by clicking here
t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk November 28
Marine Tony Evans and Marine Georgie Sparks,
both of J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines,
The men had been conducting a foot patrol to the north-west of Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province. Marines Evans and Sparks had moved on to the roof of a compound when, at around 9am, there was an attack by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades and they were badly wounded. Both received immediate medical attention and were moved to a secure location before being put on a helicopter to be transferred back to Camp Bastion. However, both sadly died from their injuries during the flight.
Marine Tony Evans was born in April 1988 and came from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. He began his Royal Marines training in October 2006 and passed out in July 2007, joining 42 Commando a few days later. In February 2008 he completed arctic warfare training in Norway.
Marine Georgie Sparks aged 19, was born in December 1988 and came from Epping is Essex. He joined the Royal Marines in June 2006 and passed out from training in July 2007, joining 42 Commando a few days later. During his time at 42 Commando he qualified as a sniper.
 
Deepest condolences to the families, fellow marines & friends of these brave young men.
Rest in peace. xxx November 27
Marines killed in Afghanistan
Last Updated: Thursday, 27 November 2008, 14:24 GMT
Marines killed in Afghanistan
Two Royal Marines have been killed by insurgents in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The servicemen, from 42 Commando Royal Marines, were taking part in a foot patrol north-west of the town of Lashkar Gah in the southern area of the Helmand province when they came under sustained enemy fire.
Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before more details are released.
Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these two Royal Marines has come as a bitter and tragic blow to everyone in Task Force Helmand.
"While words cannot ease their devastation, our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends and comrades at this most painful time."
The incident comes just three days after another Marine, Alexander Lucas, 24, from Arbroath-based 45 Commando, was killed by a roadside bomb in the Kajaki area of Helmand.
On November 12 two other Marines, Robert McKibben and Neil Dunstan, died during a patrol in Garmsir district of Southern Helmand.
Their vehicle was hit by an explosive device as they patrolled with Afghan security forces.
Thursday's attack brings the total number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 128.
Earlier this week
Marine Alexander Lucas killed in Afghanistan
25 Nov 08
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Marine Alexander Lucas from Victor Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines, in Afghanistan on Monday 24 November 2008.
Victor Company was conducting an operation around Kajaki, alongside Afghan National Army troops, to clear Improvised Explosive Devices posing a dangerous threat to British forces and the local Afghan population.
Marine Lucas was a specialist Royal Marine Assault Engineer and his role within Victor Company placed him at the vanguard of troop action. With his specialist skills he provided intimate engineer support to the front line of the fighting troops. As a consequence, he was often the first man into dangerous situations and vulnerable areas, clearing the way for his colleagues to follow. It was in such a situation that Marine Lucas was killed by an enemy Improvised Explosive Device.
Despite all the efforts of those around him, Marine Lucas was killed in action and tragically died from his injuries on board the medical helicopter en route to Camp Bastion hospital.
Marine Alexander Lucas
Marine Lucas, 24, was born in Southampton on 10 January 1984, although he and his family always considered Edinburgh their home. After completing Royal Marines Commando recruit training in October 2004, Marine Lucas joined 45 Commando Royal Marines.
  REST IN PEACE BRAVE YOUNG MEN
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A Different Christmas Poem
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The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the garden to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Grandfather died in France ' on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gran always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Burma
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... a Union flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a trench with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbour no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
PLEASE, would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
Armed Service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Chris Smith
(Skipatrol)
Royal Marine Ret | |
British soldier becomes the first woman to lose a limb in Afghanistan
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:48 AM on 26th November 2008
A British Army officer has become the first female soldier to lose a limb in the war on terror.
Captain Kate Philp had her left leg amputated below the knee after the Warrior mini-tank she was commanding ran over a 50kg bomb in Afghanistan.
The blast killed Gurkha Colour Sergeant Krishna Dura, 36, injured two other soldiers and left Capt Philp with a shattered leg.
British soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan. Captain Kate Philp had her left leg amputated below the knee after the Warrior mini-tank she was commanding ran over a 50kg bomb in Afghanistan
She was airlifted to a field hospital in Helmand, where doctors thought they had saved her foot.
But surgeons were forced to amputate her limb after the Royal Artillery officer was flown to the specialist military hospital at Selly Oak, Birmingham.
Capt Philp — who serves with 17 Corunna Battery of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery — had given a year’s notice to quit the Army.
But the officer had insisted on completing a tour of Afghanistan before leaving the service.
The 30-year-old, from Worcester, is believed to be the first woman combat amputee in British military history
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