The Sandbag Times Issue No: 40

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NEWS THE VETERANS’ MAgAzINE SBT newS February Edition Deepcut Inquest: Week Two Hears New Evidence The second week into the second inquest of Pte Sean Benton has heard evidence fro soldiers who were serving with him at the time of his death. Accounts have been heard how Deepcut barracks was ruled by fear and punishments were often extremely brutal and staff considered themselves ‘above the law’. The Coroner heard from two female soldiers who were among the last to see him alive. Deborah Rider, one of the two soldiers, told of her torment at not being able to give details of her conversation with Sean Benton. Witnesses at the inquest who are now adults in their 40s described how they would literally hide in order to avoid coming into contact with instructors. In one day of accounts, former soldiers described regular public humiliations, recruits being beasted until they were physically sick, days filled with pointless tasks, boredom and random violence. The inquest in scheduled to last until Easter with over 140 witnesses giving evidence. Read updates as they happen by following twitter page @deepcutinquest Plans To Scrap Brand New Helicopter ‘Wildcat’ Fleet Plans to scrap the entire fleet of ‘Wildcat’ helicopters are being considered as part of the Defence Review. The Westland Augusta Wildcat is the new aircraft which replaced the Lynx which recently retired from service. Plans include selling the fleet which is used by the Army Air Corps and Royal Navy in an attempt to fill the deficit in the Defence Budget. Other cuts include merging the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines as well as axing two specialist amphibious vessels HMS Albion and Bulwark. Other regiments are also being considered in the review including squadrons of the Army Air Corps. MoD Chiefs have warned the PM that cutting the Armed Forces any further would leave the UK unable to defend itself from attack especially with the current threat from Russia. One incident included a plastic Minehunter escorting two Russian Submarines through the English Channel instead of a more capable Frigate. Tasking a minehunter with intercepting two Russian submarines and a support ship shows a “desperate shortage” of appropriate escort vessels, a former head of the Royal Navy has said. Labour peer Admiral Lord West of Spithead also warned that the UK is moving into an “area of great danger” owing to a diminishing fleet size. However, the MoD has been given an extra 5 months to consider any further changes and to make a new case for a possible increase in spending. Prince William Launches War Poetry Competition Prince William has launched a competition to mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of the first world war. The competition will mark the opening of the new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre for injured servicemen and women at Headley Court. The competition is open to everyone aged 17 and over. The overall winner will receive a £2,000 cash prize, with four runners-up receiving £500. Poems must be no longer than 25 lines, and the deadline for entries is 9 April. To enter the competition simple email your poem to entries@poemtoremember.co.u k or post your entries to: A Poem To Remember, PO Box 74616, London, SW6 9LB To find out more please go to www.poemtoremember.co.uk Military Wives Hit Out Over Pension Changes Thousands of former military wives are missing out on valuable pensions credits simply because they reached state pension age before the rules changed. The new state pension was introduced in April 2016, and it stopped the ability for people to claim a pension based on their spouse’s national insurance contributions. Recognising the impact this could have on partners of people in the military, who often move around, the government introduced credits for military spouses while abroad. But the opportunity to claim is only available to people reaching state pension age after 6 April 2016. Anyone claiming could be in for a substantial windfall. Spouses, likely to be women, can claim a full-year’s national insurance credit for any year they were abroad since 1975. Read More | 4 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk
NEWS THE VETERANS’ MAgAzINE SBT newS February Edition Former Head of the Army Fury as MoD refuses to fund helpline for suicidal troops A former head of the British Army has launched a blistering attack on the Government for failing mentally traumatised troops and veterans. General Lord Dannatt also warned the armed forces needed to undergo a “complete culture change” towards PTSD and other mental illnesses. His comments come as it is revealed that suicides among serving soldiers have been at the rate of one every three weeks for the past 20 years. Ministry of Defence figures show 325 servicemen and women suffering took their lives between 1997 and 2016. Many died on British bases and most were veterans of Ulster, Bosnia and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Inquests found many were being bullied, were sex abuse victims or suffering from PTSD and other mental illness. Lord Dannatt is furious at the MoD’s refusal to pay £2million to establish a 24/7 helpline – a drop in the ocean compared to £89million for one Typhoon fighter jet. In the past five years the MoD has medically discharged almost 2,000 soldiers diagnosed with mental health problems. In 2012 it emerged the suicide toll was higher than those killed in battle. Some 21 soldiers and 29 veterans killed themselves that year, compared with 44 troops who died in Afghanistan. Read More British Officer Dies In Iraq In ‘Non Combat Related’ Incident: Investigation Ongoing A British Army Officer who died in an incident last Wednesday while supporting the anti-Islamic State coalition has been identified as a Scottish soldier. Capt. Dean Sprouting of the Adjutant General’s Corps died at Al Asad Air Base, a joint coalition and Iraqi military compound in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, the MoD said in a statement Friday. “An investigation is underway to establish the detail but it is not a result of enemy activity,” said Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster, who expressed his sympathies to the man’s family and friends. Capt Sprouting was serving with Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. Lt. Col. Rob Hedderwick, the unit’s commanding officer, said the father of two had quickly made himself indispensable. “His intelligence and sharp wit was apparent from the SAS Soldiers to Face Trial Over Brecon Deaths Two SAS soldiers face trial by court martial in Colchester over the deaths of three reservists on a 16-mile march in the Brecon Beacons. The men, known only as 1A and 1B, both deny "negligently performing a duty" by failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of the candidates taking part in the exercise. Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and L/Cpl Edward Maher were pronounced dead on the Welsh mountain range after suffering heatstroke in July 2013. Corporal James Dunsby died at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks later. outset; there was an everpresent twinkle in his eye and he would gladly admit that his youth had been full of adventure,” “His loss is keenly felt by us all and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children whom I know he cherished more than anything else in this world,” Hedderwick said. “I am hugely proud and thankful to have known him.” No further information has been released at this point. 1A and 1B, whose identities are protected by an anonymity order, appeared behind a screen at Colchester Military Court on Monday accompanied by their barrister Lewis Cherry. Their names, ranks and numbers were supplied to the judge in writing. 1A, a serving captain who was the training officer in charge of the march, and 1B, a former warrant officer, who was the chief instructor on the exercise, each face a single charge of negligently performing a duty. They could face up to two years in prison and dismissal if convicted. Read More Here... www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 5 |
Page 1: The Veterans’ Magazine Issue 40 |
Page 6 and 7: The Historical Tommy Atkins
Page 8 and 9: NICOLA WILLIS JONES Nicola Willis-J
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Page 13 and 14: On 20th January, the SBT was invite
Page 15 and 16: Face is being documented by award-w
Page 17 and 18: HAVE FAITH Humility In The Face Of
Page 19 and 20: TO ORDER PLEASE CALL: 01226 734222
Page 21 and 22: Veterans Breakfast Clubs CLUB OF TH
Page 23 and 24: SPONSORED BY: Information From Jack
Page 25: THE CHRONICLES OF LITTLE HOPE ed ir

The Sandbag Times Issue No: 40

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