ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by jim30

Exile
No its not a job. Its a desire to see balance for people who always get slated, even when its not their fault. Although as someone with a part time Commission, which means i'm reserve /cs untermensch, i've done tours in rig and civvies, so i'd like to think i've sufficient relevant first hand experience to comment.

Just for clarity - you are STAB/cs untermensch. Those of us who are on the reserve list don't generally like being lumped in with the TA!

Are you still "in rig" or just playing on the operational experience line?

Oh the joy of being stuck in Cardiff and bored. I am most definitely still active, although not in anything as vulgar as the ta, although i do need to amend my profile at some point to update it.

I am TA AMS (not that I think it makes any difference) and during my tour at Role 3 in Bastion we worked relentlessly for every case, regardless of severity of injury or prognosis. In fact, I have never worked so hard in my life.

I really hope someone on here will say the same about care back in blighty.

Originally Posted by Mr_Snakey

I really hope someone on here will say the same about care back in blighty.

Okay....I've met Ben P. at DMRC Headley Court.....where he has received extensive treatment for severe injuries....it is a tribute to Ben's courage and determination that he has got this far with his rehabilitation....it is also, please Daily Mail, a tribute to the long,patient,selfless hard work put in with Ben over many many hours by the physios, prosthetists and others at Headley.

Without the courage and selfless fortitude of his comrades who did the right thing at the point of injury , the pilots who flew him out of the firing line , the MERT team who kept him alive long enough to reach Bastion, the professionalism of the DMS surgeons ( both Regular and Reservist) who kept him alive on the operating table, the CCAST crew who safely medevac'd him back to the UK, the skill and compassion with which he was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by both Service and civilian doctors and FINALLY the best part of two years treatment at DMRC, Ben would also not be where he is today.

He would be a name on a memorial.


Happy Armed Forces Day - if you are entitled to a Veteran's badge - wear it with pride.

For the Twittering class: https://twitter.com/mack1267/status/...382720/photo/1

Originally Posted by jim30

Quite right. I mean the mod hasnt spent millions investing in first class recovery and aid for people injured has it?
The problem we have is that our kit is almost too good now. Wounds that would kill someone 15-20 years ago can now be survived. We are in a new workd of trying to work out how to provide the best possible life long care to peopke like ben, and we're learning on the job. I have incredible respect for him, but the idea that mod (or rather the army) doesnt care is so far off the mark its scary.

Not entering pointless conflicts on behalf of the USA perhaps? Prevention being better than the cure...

Golf_one_one, crow_bag, The_Snail and 2 others like this.Mr_Snakey, JoeyDeacon

Huzza - thanks folks....CHECK THE SIG !

( well done Guzz-John....the boys will appreciate EVEN more than me !)

This story by the Telegraph is a reflection on the system when Ben as first injured. Unfortunately nothing is perfect and as much as people may try it takes time and experience to get it right. Even now some things aren't right, I've exploded on a number of occassions at Headley Court to get issues addressed, but there is always someone who becomes a weak link in the chain.

Let it be said though that the greater majority of personnel who work at Headley are awesome and work very hard, but you have to remember that they are also on a learning curve, recoverable injuries are one thing, but each Complex Trauma case is pretty unique and provides the teams it's own difficulties.

As for the other clinicians, you'll find no one works harder to save people, Ben's injuries were so serious because of his brain injury. I was ripped apart by the blast, had I been injured 6 months earlier I would not have survived, even then it was touch and go and there was a debate amongst Doctors over when some one is too seriously injured to warrant a life worth saving and going to the efforts they do.

I think the reason for the story is that the telegraph require a page filler, it's simply out of date, but none the less true of how Ben was treated. Unfortunately some people have to endure the hardships to improve things for others, Ben's done it, so have others.

Diane Derney has fought very hard for Ben and all injured soldiers have benefited as a result

Originally Posted by Goatman

Okay....I've met Ben P. at DMRC Headley Court.....where he has received extensive treatment for severe injuries....it is a tribute to Ben's courage and determination that he has got this far with his rehabilitation....it is also, please Daily Mail, a tribute to the long,patient,selfless hard work put in with Ben over many many hours by the physios, prosthetists and others at Headley.

Without the courage and selfless fortitude of his comrades who did the right thing at the point of injury , the pilots who flew him out of the firing line , the MERT team who kept him alive long enough to reach Bastion, the professionalism of the DMS surgeons ( both Regular and Reservist) who kept him alive on the operating table, the CCAST crew who safely medevac'd him back to the UK, the skill and compassion with which he was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by both Service and civilian doctors and FINALLY the best part of two years treatment at DMRC, Ben would also not be where he is today.

He would be a name on a memorial.


Happy Armed Forces Day - if you are entitled to a Veteran's badge - wear it with pride.

For the Twittering class: https://twitter.com/mack1267/status/...382720/photo/1

I was there when Ben was hit. In fact, as we were obviously in a mine field, I took a photo of the scene. I offered Ben a copy, which he gladly accepted, as the only picture and memory he has is of the vehicle after it was denied.

I have said it before on here, the medic with us at the time was a LCpl! He went straight into the blast area without second thought and worked for about 1.5 hours to save Ben's life. When the MERT aircraft arrived, the doctor (NHS consultant) got off the Chinook and asked who performed on Ben. He said he would have been hard pushed to have bettered anything that had been performed and undoubtably saved his life. That medic is one of those who will walk through life with no visible embellishment on his chest for what he did. However, he will know that he gave a great man the gift of life.

It is a memory that I will praise, a story I will tell till my voice no longer works to my children.

The medic's wife has contacted me before on these means whilst he was back in theatre probably doing the same to thank me for kind words of praise.

Sorry for going on, but he deserves great credit for preserving life.

Steadfast in adversity...

Ben continues to do great things for the recognition of the service person. Well in, mate.