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Community Forums => The Lounge => Topic started by: MLHMLH on March 09, 2012, 07:25:36 PM



Title: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: MLHMLH on March 09, 2012, 07:25:36 PM
3 of the 6 soldiers killed in Afghanistan earlier this week were from my town, Huddersfield.  After going into the town centre today it is clear that the people of Huddersfield are absolutely devastated by the loss of such brave, young lads.  It was truly heartbreaking to read through the tributes left at the war memorial in the town today.

One of the soldiers who died was Private Danny Wilford aged 21.  His friends have posted a very poignant tribute to him and the other fallen soldiers on youtube.  As his friends say in their comments, please re post and share this to as many places you can to make everyone realise that it's time to bring our lads home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uUsHsmJINQ

Corporal Jake Hartley aged 20 from Huddersfield was also killed in the same incident as Danny.  Jake was a friend of my daughter.

RIP...

Private Danny Wilford aged 21
Sergeant Nigel Coupe aged 33
Corporal Jake Hartley aged 20
Private Anthony Frampton aged 20
Private Christopher Kershaw aged 20
Private Daniel Wade aged 20

....and all the other brave soldiers who served and died for our country.

<3


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: istrabraq on March 09, 2012, 07:28:46 PM
Danial wade lives 5 mins from me went past his house tday was very upsetting loads of tributes and he was going 2 be a dad I'n June . What a terrible waste of life . Over 400 lost is it worth it . I say bring them home .


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: ManuelsMum on March 09, 2012, 07:36:48 PM
Danial wade lives 5 mins from me went past his house tday was very upsetting loads of tributes and he was going 2 be a dad I'n June . What a terrible waste of life . Over 400 lost is it worth it . I say bring them home .

RIP

I heard 'a senseless waste' echoed a few times today. Do any soldiers 'conscientiously object'? Can they?


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: MLHMLH on March 09, 2012, 07:37:37 PM
Danial wade lives 5 mins from me went past his house tday was very upsetting loads of tributes and he was going 2 be a dad I'n June . What a terrible waste of life . Over 400 lost is it worth it . I say bring them home .

Amazing how many people have been affected by this.  Rick Gilby told me that Nigel Coupe was married to a lady who works at his children's nursery.  This kind of thing has such a huge ripple effect.


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: istrabraq on March 09, 2012, 07:48:17 PM
Michelle my daughter started high school September great Sankey high and there's a pictur of Tom and ste both killed last year and was pupils at school I'n same class . Had 2,explain why was not easy what do u say really hit school hard . Surely they can bring them home .


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: MLHMLH on March 09, 2012, 07:54:10 PM
Michelle my daughter started high school September great Sankey high and there's a pictur of Tom and ste both killed last year and was pupils at school I'n same class . Had 2,explain why was not easy what do u say really hit school hard . Surely they can bring them home .

Totally agree Andy.  They always say that us being there makes us safer, but to me it just makes this country a target because we somehow feel that we have to be the world's policeman (along with America).  The Taliban have simply moved from Afghanistan to Pakistan, Somalia and Nigeria etc.


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: Acidmouse on March 09, 2012, 07:58:06 PM
Really Sad, hope the families can be proud of them. RIP


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: istrabraq on March 09, 2012, 08:05:15 PM
I'm sure family's proud of them . Toms sister is In my daughters class aged 11 and walks past a picture I'n reception of her brother must be so hard for her . I personally don't think were achieving anything there but what do I know all I can see is heartache and lives ruined


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: aaron1867 on March 09, 2012, 11:09:53 PM
This is so bloody sad and what an awful week it must have been for those families, my thoughts go out to you.

I saw a tribute to them on Look North earlier, was really fitting. It was really sad to have seen it, but what moved me a little more was one of the fallen 6's friends had posted on that lad's wall "hope it's not you" after hearing about the deaths. So sad.

RIP.


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: Rivertony on March 10, 2012, 02:51:10 AM
Really Sad, hope the families can be proud of them. RIP

All heroes, RIP guys and thank you!


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: smashedagain on March 10, 2012, 08:41:44 AM
Rip. There seems to be even more public shock than normal over these latest deaths.


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: George2Loose on March 10, 2012, 11:58:06 AM
It's just so sad. Shocks me that soldiers so young are out on the frontline

RIP


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: Geo the Sarge on March 10, 2012, 12:57:54 PM
It's just so sad. Shocks me that soldiers so young are out on the frontline

RIP

A great point George.

The Army is no longer the lifetime career for most those days, whilst it may be their initial intentions to have a long career in the Army, after a few years of almost always being on operations or training to go on operations they just become totally burnt out and disillusioned. Couple this with having to spend so much time away from family and friends.

This has led to the average age of our forces dropping and it really is sad to see.

Lee mentioned in another thread that the opportunity for young soldiers to do vocational courses are fewer than ever before.

Jake Hartley was a full Corporal and he wasn't even 21. That lad must have been some soldier to have gained that rank within 3 years as an infantryman. Moreover, he must have sacrificed a hell of a lot of his time dedicating himself to do the education and additional training and courses required to achieve this beyond his normal duties.

Unitl 10 years ago you would average 2.5 - 3 years between operational tours now it's probably 18 months. Our politicians seem to have more commitment to others than they have to our own troops and it's an utter disgrace. Troop cuts over the years have been huge, whilst all the while adding to the tasks they want them to do.

They too are suffering from the change to public sector pension rules and other cutbacks like losing London allowance for those ordered to be stationed there.

To say that by being in Afghanistan assists the safety of those at home is nonsense.

RIP brave guys

Geo


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: leethefish on March 10, 2012, 01:25:15 PM
It's very hard for me to put Into words what I want to say on this ....

The young soldiers had there whole life in front of them and they and their family's have sacrificed the ultimate.

My thoughts And prayers are with their family's ...

It puts our sad sorry problems as very incignificant.

Lest we forget




Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: leethefish on March 10, 2012, 06:40:14 PM
very nice posts  LEE and GEO

i really struggle to put into words how i feel ...i try but it never comes out the way i think it !!

glad you and Geo are here i ought to just put +1 to your posts ....but feel i need to try and say what i mean...






Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: Geo the Sarge on March 10, 2012, 06:52:02 PM
It's just so sad. Shocks me that soldiers so young are out on the frontline

RIP

A great point George.

The Army is no longer the lifetime career for most those days, whilst it may be their initial intentions to have a long career in the Army, after a few years of almost always being on operations or training to go on operations they just become totally burnt out and disillusioned. Couple this with having to spend so much time away from family and friends.

This has led to the average age of our forces dropping and it really is sad to see.

Lee mentioned in another thread that the opportunity for young soldiers to do vocational courses are fewer than ever before.

Jake Hartley was a full Corporal and he wasn't even 21. That lad must have been some soldier to have gained that rank within 3 years as an infantryman. Moreover, he must have sacrificed a hell of a lot of his time dedicating himself to do the education and additional training and courses required to achieve this beyond his normal duties.

Unitl 10 years ago you would average 2.5 - 3 years between operational tours now it's probably 18 months. Our politicians seem to have more commitment to others than they have to our own troops and it's an utter disgrace. Troop cuts over the years have been huge, whilst all the while adding to the tasks they want them to do.

They too are suffering from the change to public sector pension rules and other cutbacks like losing London allowance for those ordered to be stationed there.

To say that by being in Afghanistan assists the safety of those at home is nonsense.

RIP brave guys

Geo

It's kinda hard to reply to this thread, but as always Geo manages to put things into words a lot better than I do. At the same time he raises alot of very good points.

Alot of guys do get burnt out. Its kinda weird cus in a way its like our cup final. You train and train and train for things like this - and to actually get to do it is like a footballer going to Wembley. In a perverse way you actually want to be there. But the tours take a huge mental toll - its the going back again that burns you out. But at least if you're going back you were lucky enough the last time.

The tour gap has shortened. Not only that, but sometimes some of us can expect to 'surge' to back up other squadrons. These surges can be as long as four months. It really is a kind of dodgy manpower accountancy on the MOD's part.

But what doesn't help is what we call 'The Shit in Between'. Rather than chilling between tours, we have to catch up with career courses and undertake whatever bullsh*t our regiment has been signed upto (clearing snow, building bridges, olympic security, constant open days etc). We then have to train for the next tour (takes about a year). Cuts leave us short of key experienced personnel to admin the troops. Its not unusual to find yourself doing what was expected of 6 people a few years ago. IMO its this stuff that really adds to the burn out. Like Geo says, the allowance cuts really aren't appreciated. We're copping the flak and making alot of sacrifices because of those bumbling f*ckwit civil servants in the MOD (who still haven't been culled).

The infantry soldiers really are promoting quickly now. But they reckon a 6 month tour is now worth ten years experience. On my last tour The Rifles had a 25 year old Sergeant Major. Yup, you read it right! Alot of old heads on young shoulders.

My kids live next to 3 Yorks and go to the school across the road; I drove past all the flowers yesterday. My ex wife has just done all the tailoring work for the upcoming parades/ceremonies etc. She says the mood of the whole town is really sombre and its really brought it home to everyone exactly what the lads are facing upto.

I think the main shock factor, aside from the number of casualties, is the fact that the Taliban has managed to defeat the (enhanced) armour of a Warrior.

Its the families that I really really feel sorry for. We know the risks we undertake and also know that if an incident is to kill us, we're not going to know much about it.

The incident will strengthen 3 Yorks; hopefully going out with their senses heightened will keep more from becoming casualties.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
 England mourns for her dead across the sea.
 Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
 Fallen in the cause of the free.

 Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
 Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
 There is music in the midst of desolation
 And a glory that shines upon our tears.

 They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
 Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
 They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
 They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
 Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
 At the going down of the sun and in the morning
 We will remember them.

 They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
 They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
 They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
 They sleep beyond England's foam.

 But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
 Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
 To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
 As the stars are known to the Night;

 As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
 Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
 As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
 To the end, to the end, they remain.


RIP

Top post Lee thanks.

There is another part of this and that is the ongoing suffering for the families.

Having been on the unfortunate end of losing a brother in service, I don't think I could justify in words how much these families are going through and how long that suffering will stay with them.

Time merely heals wounds, it does not reincarnate

Geo



Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: BorntoBubble on March 11, 2012, 01:57:06 AM
Such a sad loss i have many friends that have been to afgan, are in afgan or are prepareing to go to afgan i cannot put in to words how amazing some of these lads are they turned from boys to men very quickly and are now out their fighting on the front line i for one would not be brave enough to do the jobs these lads do and now to think that most of the troops on the ground out there are my age and younger is saddening (20). Im thinking ahead to my whole life and these lads are just trying to put one foot in front of the other without stepping on an IED. Its saddening that it seems to be now weekly we hear of multiple deaths i hope it ends soon.

RIP


Title: Re: Fallen Soldiers
Post by: Royal Flush on March 12, 2012, 09:19:15 AM
I echo the sentiments about the tragic loss of life.

I do not echo the political statements made by those on this thread that in my opinion do not belong on this thread.