Injured toll doubles in a year
Nearly 1,000 Service personnel have been wounded in action in Afghanistan, the latest casualty figures have disclosed. The latest figures that cover upto the 15th October. The figures show that up to October 15, 386 Service personnel had been wounded in action, taking the toll of injured since 2001 to 940. All but ten have occurred since 2006.
According to the Ministry of Defence figures, more than four members of the Armed Forces are being wounded for every death. In 2006, 85 were wounded and 234 the following year. In 2008, 235 were injured. The numbers who have been “very seriously” or “seriously” wounded have also increased sharply.
In 2006, the first year of combat with the Taleban in Helmand, 31 Service personnel received injuries in these two categories. In 2007 the total rose to 63 and in 2008 it was 65. This year the number has doubled to 121.
The MoD said that the figures reflected the “torrid summer” faced by troops in Helmand, with the Taleban laying improvised explosive devices.
All the seriously wounded are flown to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak in Birmingham. Defence sources said that there were contingency plans for taking seriously wounded servicemen to other hospitals in the area, but at present the Selly Oak hospital could cope with the influx of injured.
Those who have lost limbs or suffered permanent brain damage are cared for at the MoD’s rehabilitation centre at Headley Court, near Dorking, Surrey.
We shall continue to raise public awareness on these often hiden figures.
Music & Family Fun Day
Hi
As you are aware Richard Hunt was the 200th service person to loose their life in Afghanistan.
Hazel Hunt the mother of Richard did not want him to die in vain so along with family and
friends set up The Richard Hunt Foundation.
We have been holding talks with Monmouthshire County Council and have now confirmed a
date for a Music and Family fun day to raise funds and awareness for our injured and
often forgotten heroes. In the ten weeks since Richard passed away we have raised in
excess of £10,000 this has gone to Help For Heroes, The Poppy Appeal and other charity
organisations. We hope to continue to raise funds and see this the first of hopefully
many large scale events to be held.
We can now announce the date of the Music and Family fun day to be held at Bailey Park in
Abergavenny on the 15th May 2010.
The day will consist of live music from a wide variety of bands, displays, funfair, trade
stalls, food and drink. The planning is in the very early stages but we believe we have
a very good team working on this event and we have had so many offers of support it is
overwhelming.
For more information please contact us.
Eirwen Rogers
Events Co-Ordinator
01873 810105
info@welshwarrior.co.uk
The Richard Hunt Foundation
The Abandonded Soldier
The Abandoned Soldier
A youthful face
With innocent cares,
Wide eyed child
With infant stares.
The child grew up
Played soldier games,
With sticks for guns
Pretending to maim.
Young boy left school
Sought to be a man,
To render peace
In Afghanistan.
But all too soon
The decision made,
Some years of his life
With the Army he’d trade.
Once training done
And off he flew,
To fight a war
In pastures new.
Soon a mortar attack,
Killed, outright four,
But ‘lucky’ for him
He was blown to the floor.
Though injuries sustained
Were incidental,
Not so physical
More like mental.
The cuts and bruises
Would heal away,
But the mental scars
With him they’d stay.
The career he’d wanted
As a child,
Became a curse
It drove him wild.
With visions of battle
That never would end,
He’d witnessed the death
Of his closest friend.
So he had to leave
The new family he trusted
With a broken head,
Psychologically busted.
He hoped they’d help
To resettle him.
Instead discarded,
Thrown in a bin.
Abandoned and left
To his own devices,
Thoughts of suicide
And similar vices.
So look what has happened
There is no one bolder
Than the man we call,
‘The Abandoned Soldier’.
Who fought for his Country
Over hundreds of years,
Did not die,
but is left,
With a wounded man’s tears.
© Mark Christmas
Poem above sent to us by Mark Christmas.
Why did my son die?
On Monday evening ITV showed a documentary following Richard's mother Hazel. The mother of the 200th UK soldier to die in Afghanistan investigates whether enough is being done to protect our troops on the battlefield, and what care is offered to the injured.
During the making of the documentary there were other pertinent questions asked by Hazel but the powers to be did not want these aired, we are looking into whether we can air these to the public domain or not. The film is linked to below take 30 minutes to watch as Hazel asks the questions we all want answers to.
http://www.itv.com/ITVPlayer/Video/default.html?ViewType=5&Filter=104033
Richard Hunt Foundation on Facebook
The Richard Hunt Foundation are on facebook, we have a fan page and will be adding to it on a regular basis. News of any events and fundraisers we have along with any information we have that we think is of use to anybody interested in news about our wounded heroes.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Welsh-Warrior-The-Richard-Hunt-Foundation/291670130432?ref=nf
Welsh Warrior The Richard Hunt Foundation
Welcome to Welsh Warrior the blog of The Richard Hunt Foundation.
The Richard Hunt Foundation is being setup in memory of Richard Hunt the 200th service person to loose their life in Afghanistan. The driving force for this foundation are Richards family, they want his name to be remembered and to raise awareness for the many injured service men and women who's stories go untold. The foundation aim to work with other charities that support our brave troops, such as Help For Heroes, Support Our Soldiers. The foundation is still in its infancy but the momentum is strong and plans are in place already for some major events.
For anyone wishing to contribute or make a donation to the Richard Hunt Foundation just click on the donate button below every donation counts no matter what the amount. Thank you for your time keep visiting to keep up to date with all the news.
Registered Charity No 1134637