http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29473419 As British troops prepare to leave Afghanistan, their experiences there are being reflected in a series of striking photographs posted on billboards across the UK.
DBF I note that the government are to argue the toss about bombing the ISS - and that's it - we had all this nonsense in ww2 when Harris - Tedder - Coningham and many other Air wallahs decided that Bombing alone would finish off the Germans- thankfully they were ignored and the PBI plus the Armour and Arty were sent in to do the job. WE don't seem to have learned those lessons and they keep trotting out how the Air can blow up one place and the survivors merely set up in another place…now IF the politicians were to join the Infantry or the latest victims brother wants the PBI to be sent in - I trust that they and he will volunteer as I see that after ten years in Afghanistan - we are without a clear cut victory - so it would appear that the MOD needs a clear thinking session before we fire another shot then take on the Spanish over Gibralter - we MIGHT win that one… Cheers
I thought these were rather good: Telegraph: We Are Not The Dead: soldiers' faces before, during and after serving in Afghanistan Someone on here once showed me some before & after pics of WW1 fliers. Quite moving, and underlined the stresses were so much greater than the tally-ho image.
I think part of the reason for the drawn look is a lack of decent snap. 5 months of ration packs and little fresh food takes a toll on your body - I think I lost around a stone when I went to Iraq and I only weighed 10 1/2 stone when I deployed. Must see if I have a before and after photo. It's the first time I've seen a picture with someone using a third rocket pouch. I can't remember where I picked that tip up from, possibly Kosovo. The rocket pouches zip on to the sides of the main bergan - you are issued two of them, one for each side of the bergan or just zip the two together to make a day sack. Some genius discovered that you could zip the rocket (side pouches) pouches together as many times as you liked and three zipped together fitted perfectly onto your began with the extra one in the middle - I was one of those meant to be moments for me because God wanted me to carry extra kit
I can't help but feel in 3 months time someone will be starting a thread 'Sqauddie Posters Get Anti-War Graffiti'
Drew how much did that all weigh? It looks unbelievable heavy. How far might you have had to carry it?
CTNana In ww2 the PBI carried - in real money - about the same 120 lbs - and carried it all day long - they daren't sit down if there was no one to help them up again… Cheers
The photographs are haunting! That first photo has been popping into my mind all day long. Drew so it is almost like carrying your own body weight? Absolutely no chance that I could have even lifted it even when I was younger. Dare I ask if the women have the same load to carry? Tom wouldn't you have thought that the load would have decreased with the wider range of materials which could be used today? I remember how heavy my Dad's kitbag seemed to be even when empty. Do soldiers have to walk less far nowadays?
CTNana I believe that the Army go on what is the most a man can carry as it appears to be the same weight plus the fact that they don't seem to walk as far as they did - it was late in '44 when the Canadians came up with the stripped up Honey at Falaise to cary men almost into battle - even later when Ron's 4H-personnel carriers - did the same in Northern Italy and now they have helicopters to do that..so they have more strength for the actual fighting… Cheers
Superb photographs. Some of them really are very haunting. I'd be very interested to see the WW1 before and afters mentioned, will have a dig around for them. As for weight - I put my husbands webbing and bergan on for a laugh a while ago before he went on exercise. About 20lbs in his webbing and 70lbs in his bergan. I managed to stay standing up...and not alot else! Did put the bergan on my 6 year old a while back. Managed to catch her just before she fell over backwards!
You know you're getting older when the War Veterans are getting younger. I'm old enough to be their Dad - some of them anyway. War Veterans used to be old codgers with walking sticks.
Owen Watch it - some of us are still old codgers - not with sticks though as the wheeled carriers are much better - and safer - helps me walk around the block… Cheers
Owen You also know when your getting older when 1. You decide to skip the forthcoming British Legion National Commemorative Parade 2. You remind yourself to take a shooting stick with you on the annual AJEX Parade Ron Who still remembers how far & fast he used to walk
Hi Tom, I totally agree about your comments ref "bombing the ISS. I started a post on Rocknet about the same topic. The LINK in my post will lead you to where the idea came from. But the ISS situation is a different kettle of fish. Afghanistan has cost us dearly and I doubt if any Gov will have the "guts" to get involved in such a difficult campaign. Quote "See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29441383 Including a photograph of British RAF armoured cars and bomber planes on duty in Iraq during the Mesopotamia conflict during the 1920s. Will today`s "policing work" without troops on the ground ? Kind Regards, Mick D.
