The Sandbag Times Issue No: 51

SBT
2018 Review
In a year where so much has happened in Armed Forces and
Veterans world, the SBT has been hard at work to capture
events and bring our readers the very latest news, reviews,
stories and gossip as it happened with a little bit of fun thrown
in for good measure. We take a look back at the last year with
the nations favourite Veterans magazine.
January 2018
The year started, unfortunately, how it was to
continue. WO2 Nathan Hunt was the first of
71 Armed Forces and Veterans to take his life.
More troops were sent to Afghanistan and
MP’s called to unite charities. We feature
Emille Gheeson as he ventured
into hostile territory with the Robin
Hood Complex and Mrs Fox made
her debut in the SBT with her hit
series ‘Mrs Fox Goes To War’.
March 2018
In the March news, the NHS initiative
TILS was rolled out. The Welsh Guards
were confirmed to return to Afghanistan
and the suicide figures continued to
rise with the death of Jarryd Wingfield .
We featured the wonderful book ‘A Half
Shilling Curate’ and also carried out a
review on the Armed Forces Covenant
following reports of failures.
May 2018
The pilot involved in the Shoreham
aircrash was in court charged with
11 counts of manslaughter while North Korea
announced that it was halting Nuclear testing.
The 2018 Airshow season was upon us and the
SBT took a look at the displays which were to
grace our skies.
February 2018
The Deepcut Inquest was all over the press
with the new inquest into Pte Sean Benton
who died at Deepcut Barracks. Two SAS officers
went on trial over the Brecon Beacon
deaths and we lost Capt Dean Sprouting to
an accident in Iraq. Our main feature was the
hit play ‘A Brave Face’. An amazing production
with not a word spoken but yet so much
said. Look out for it again in 2019.
April 2018
The big news in April was the death of Cpl
Jonathan Bayliss following a Red Arrows Jet
accident. Gen Nick Carter was named as the
UK’s new Military chief and the MOD paid out
compensation for PTSD for the first time. The
big feature was the launch of the BTCC season
with our patron, Matt Neal in a brand new
Honda Civic Type R (FK8) at Donnington Park.
June 2018
The sad news that Danny Johnstons body
had been found despite a high profile search
shocked the veterans community. The UK
considered sending even more troops to
Afghanistan and retired Lt Col Chris Parker
hits out over employers attitude to PTSD. We
featured BFBS radio as ‘The Battle of the
Breakfast Clubs’ was launched.
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