FrontLine Magazine - August 2010

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CHRISTMAS

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❄SPREAD SOME CHRISTMAS

CHEER – SEE PAGE 14-15

CAN YOU BEAT THE BEST?

IS NOT AN OPTION!GOING AWOL OLWOL

MOBILISE YOUR SQUAD

ENTER NOW AT:

SOLDIERCHALLENGE.CO.UK

Event date: 26th March 2011

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Registered Charity No: 211645 Scottish Registered Charity No: SC039189

We’re taking military training out of the fi eld and bringing it into Central London for a day. SOLDIER CHALLENGE is a brand new Urban Adventure on the streets of London brought to you for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity by the guys behind the legendary Rat Race.

Whether you fi nd yourself attempting an assault course next to the Thames, abseiling in the City or leopard crawling through Leicester Square, SOLDIER CHALLENGE will provide you with an opportunity to see the capital in a totally new light.

AD-SChallange-frontline.indd 1 17/06/2010 16:03

Corporal Andy Reid—Andy Reid has served for 13 years with 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. He is currently in rehabilitation following the severe injuries he received as a result of an IED while serving in Afghanistan last autumn. As a result of the explosion he lost both legs and his right arm. He is receiving ongoing treatment for his left arm which was also damaged and is now fitted with a metal plate. —Currently on sick leave, Cpl Reid says his main focus now is getting better and working on his fitness. In order for him to recuperate at his home in Lancashire there was an urgent need for a wheelchair ramp and some other adaptations before he could gain access to the house. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity was able to make an immediate grant to cover the cost of this installation. Cpl Reid says: “I’m grateful for the help that I’ve received. I couldn’t get into my home until the adaptations were done, and The Soldiers’ Charity did the work in about 10 days.” ————

soldierscharity.org FRONTLINE | AUGUST 2010 | 3

WelCoMe leTTeR

CONTENTSISSUE 02

NEWS

OPINION

CHRISTMAS CARDS

FEATURENEWS

Latest national news and events

LOCAL UPDATE Fundraising

and events update from our regions

COLONEL STUART TOOTAL WRITES

IN SUPPORT OF ABF THE

SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

FRONTLINE BOOKS AND

5 QUESTIONS WITH ANNE

RICHARDS AND JACK TARR

our brand new range for 2010,

including notelets, diary and our

ever-popular tie

FUNDRAISING HEROESWe thank some of those who have gone the extra mile for us

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

WORKING TOGETHER WITH BAE SYSTEMSour perfect partnership over the last six months

THANK YOUJust some of you who really make a difference

CONTACT ABF The Soldiers’ CharityMountbarrow House6-20 Elizabeth StreetLondonSW1W 9RB T 0845 241 4820E [email protected] soldierscharity.org

Please visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

STATE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN AFGHANISTAN: HOW DOES IT END?oxford University’s Dr Rob Johnson’s overview of the current campaign in Afghanistan

COvERPhotographer David Short

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A WORD FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIvEWelcome to the second issue of Frontline, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity’s bi-annual publication that tells you, our valued supporter, everything that has been happening in the last 6 months.

The steady increase in cases continues and the harsh reality of civilian life can be traumatic and difficult for some - there is a significant minority who need that hand up from The Soldiers’ Charity. We are concerned at the prospect of continued demand in the years to come as a result of the two recent campaigns, and we know many former soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan will face physical deterioration of their wounds, and others the late onset of mental illness. The support the Army and its veterans currently enjoy will not last forever so we must grasp the opportunities this climate of support provides.

For those who are serving and need support, help is at hand. Not only can The Soldiers’ Charity help them in the normal way but we are also at the heart of the Army Recovery Capability, which will revolutionise the lives of injured soldiers. We will be working closely with the Army and other Service charities. Our role will be to provide the personnel and case by case assistance to ensure that each soldier’s individual recovery plan is carried out fully. We are delighted to be working with Help for Heroes who have most generously provided funds, and to date we have administered £79K of this.

We will be welcoming the London Outreach office of Combat Stress and the office of Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations to our National Office in September, bringing the number to six charities that are wholly or partly located with us in London. This continues the initiative that ourselves and The Officers’ Association are leading to bring greater co-operation in the service charity sector.

Our goal to double our income by 2015 to meet the need is ambitious and we are working hard to ensure we achieve this. In recent months we have had some spectacular successes. Notably the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry raised £185K, and the London Marathon raised a further £120K.

We are very fortunate to have such a vibrant Regional network. Last year they raised £2.9 million net of costs – a record! Public donations, our volunteers, our corporate partnerships and the serving Army and regional trusts all worked together to show their support and appreciation of our soldiers. Particular successes this year include Carrington Drum entries (£450K), Revision Trophy entries (£34K), the Early, Early Christmas Fair (£40K), The Wars of the Roses Boxing Match (£35K), the Tesco collections (£450K) and collections during the country-wide tour of The Soldiers and at a variety of sporting venues of almost £100K.

Make a note in your diary for these exciting future events: the British Military Tournament will be held at Earls Court on the 4th/5th December - a fantastic show with some of the old favourite iconic acts such as the Naval Gun Race and the King’s Troop. We have two exciting new challenges in 2011 - the Soldier Challenge on 26th March in London, where we welcome teams of all abilities, and The Cateran Yomp, a 54 mile, 24 hour team event in beautiful countryside in the vicinity of Blairgowrie, Scotland.

I am delighted to report that we are getting many offers of support from many wonderful people who want to help us, like the supporters who are running an Afghan Fashion evening, and those who are organising a Ball in the RAC Club. Please keep it coming, and remember: we are here for soldiers, for life.

MAJOR GENERAL SIR EvELYN WEBB-CARTER KCvO OBE DL cHIEF ExEcUTIvE

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FUNDRAISERS

12 MARATHONS IN 12 DAYS!It took 2 years to plan, 12 days to run, and a distance of over 1,000 miles, but on May 13th 2010, Yorkshire lads Andy North and Dave Edwards completed their incredible Support Our Troops Challenge! In early May, the Yorkshire duo covered this huge distance in 12 days by way of 12 marathons and 1,260 mile bike rides, raising over an outstanding £25K.

In June, Nick Mackaness, Hugh Faith, James Lavers and Charles Dixey competed in the Gobi March – a gruelling, 155-mile, 6 day race through one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, and described by the Sunday Times as “one of the four toughest endurance races in the world”. This ultra-marathon takes place in the Gobi Desert of China, and this year took place in the Turpan Basin – the hottest place in China, and the second lowest place on Earth, thus aptly nicknamed “The Oven”. In temperatures of over 40°C the boys raced, on average, 25 miles per day, over rocky terrain, sand dunes and long expanses of flat desert, while carrying 15kg of food, clothing and medical equipment on their backs.

On Wednesday 12th May 2010, two Army Doctors, Nick Dennison and Hamish Reid, set out to row around Great Britain in order to raise money for service charities including ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. They rowed over 2,100 miles unsupported around the British coast. They said: ‘dealing with major disasters in hostile environments is a fact of life for medical personnel in modern conflict. Yet it is exposure to this that has made us more conscious than anyone of the dedication and sacrifices made by our troops’. We are thrilled that Nick and Hamish have chosen to support our charity – to read more about their challenge and to make a donation please visit rowforheroes.com

FUNDRAISERS

ULTRA-MARATHON

FUNDRAISERS

ROW FOR HEROES

PARTNERSHIP

NEW HELP FOR HEROES FUND

EVENT

THE BRITISH MILITARY TOURNAMENT 2010

Tickets are selling fast. To buy tickets, please go to britishmilitarytournament.com

We are delighted to announce the launch of this new event, raising money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. It will be held at Earls Court with 4 performances over 4th/5th December. The programme, which takes the best and most iconic parts of the old Royal Tournament, will feature a staggering 500 troops (of which 250 are musicians), 145 horses and modern military vehicles. Also included are the famous Field Gun Run, the Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry and the Musical Drive of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, historical and contemporary battle re-enactments, mounted Skills at Arms and ceremonial drills, a scene from the critically acclaimed West End production “War Horse” with commentary and narration by some of the UK’s best-loved actors: Anthony Andrews, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Dame Judi Dench. This magnificent event presents a fantastic opportunity to marvel at an array of awe-inspiring performances of military action and precision.

Following detailed work with Help for Heroes, we launched the H4H Fund at the beginning of April. With a simple bespoke grants application process and direct lines of communication, the aim is to provide much needed support quickly and with a minimum of fuss. The Fund is being used to help soldiers “in any reasonable way that helps their recovery or eases their circumstances” To date some £79K has been allocated to provide such diverse support as fresh orange juice, rucksacks, gloves and pillows at Headley Court; to assist relatives to provide the support needed to patients at Selly Oak; to provide specially adapted cycles for amputees at St Athan; and to fund the care package of an individual during a 12-month course at Portland College. The grant, giving experience of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the fundraising enthusiasm of H4H, will provide a powerful long term partnership for the benefit of serving soldiers and veterans alike.

EARLS COURT • 4 & 5 DECEMBERwww.BRiTiShMiLiTARyTOURnAMEnT.COM

presents

Supported by

0844 248 5026 0871 620 70510870 903 9033

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EBRITISHMILITARYTOURNAMENT 2010

We have agreed to additional funding for capital projects:– £200k for the Somme Nursing

Home in Belfast– £250k for Scottish Veterans

Nursing Residences– £30k for The Royal Homes

!STOP PRESS


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The Dogs Bark and the Caravan Moves On is an account of Major Bryan Sells’ career from Cpl Chef to Senior Major. All profits from this book will go direct to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and can be ordered from: Bertram Books, 1 Broadland Business Park, Norwich, Norfolk NE7 0WF: authorsonline.co.uk or call 01633 676 629. The total cost is £12.95 including postage.

BOOKS

FROM CORPORAL CHEF TO MAJOR

The ‘Ideal Homes for Heroes’ campaign, in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, was launched at the Ideal Home Show with a dedicated Troops Day on 22nd March 2010, in order to raise much needed money to fund grants for needs such as home improvements and mobility issues for soldiers. Over 40 military personnel attended the Troops Day and 86 volunteers helped collect a massive £102K during the 17 day show. We are extremely pleased to announce that the partnership with Ideal Homes for Heroes will be returning next year. More details will appear on our website soon.

EVENT

IDEAL HOMES FOR HEROES

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity really demonstrated its international reach during the formal presentation of the minibus that it funded for the British Servicemen Families Association of Fiji (BRISFAF), on Monday 14th June. The presentation was made during a BRISFAF Families day/Queen’s Birthday celebration event, even making the national TV news. Many Fijian British Army veterans also attended the event and were very complimentary of The Soldiers’ Charity’s generosity in their support of such a worthy organisation.

PARTNERSHIP

BRITISH SERvICEMEN MINIBUS PRESENTATION

SEPTEMBER 2010

4th champagne Reception, Beating Retreat and Dinner at Laurenden Forstall, challock. 6.30pm

5th concert by the Band of The Parachute Regiment in colchester at the castle Park Bandstand

5th Beating Retreat by the Band of The Parachute Regiment, officers’ club, colchester

7th Annual Band concert and Beating Retreat with the Grenadier Guards, Thursford collection

11th clay Shooting Weekend, Larkhill, Nr Amesbury Wilts

11th Evening concert at christ’s church in Warley, Essex

16th Kitchener Dinner at the Mansion House, London

17th Talk and presentation, ‘In Shackleton’s Footsteps’, courtyard Theatre, Hereford

18th Dancing at the officers’ club in colchester

24th charity Golf Day at St Ives (Hunts) Golf club

24th clay Shoot, Braintree Shooting Ground

25th charity Ball, Tedworth House

26th Harwich Motorcycle club’s sponsored ride, Merville Barracks

26th 2010 Berlin Marathon

28th/29th Early, Early christmas Fair, Tedworth House, Tidworth OCTOBER 2010

1st charity Skydive Day with The Tigers Freefall Team

5th Golf Tournament, Tidworth Garrison Golf club

6th clay Day at West London Shooting School

7th Afghan Fashion Show, Porchester Hall, London

24th Big curry, officers’ Mess, 29 Regt RLc, South cerney, Nr cirencester

24th North East Essex & colchester Garrison Big curry, officers’ Mess, Merville Barracks

27th Early Early christmas Fair at Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls, Monmouth

27th Early Early christmas Fair, Broadfield court, Herefordshire NOvEMBER 2010

3rd Autumn Lecture at The Rifles officers’ club, Davies St, London

7th 2010 ING New York Marathon

21st Themed concert with the Band of The Rifles, chichester Festival Theatre 7pm

22nd Big curry, officers’ Mess, Wattisham Airfield

23rd Army Music’s Sinfonietta orchestra, chelmsford cathedral

24th Sinfonietta concert, The British Army orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin School, Stoke d’Abernon chobam 7.45pm

DECEMBER 2010

2nd christmas Fair, Glemham Hall, Suffolk

4th/5th British Military Tournament, Earls court, London

4th collection at Highwoods TESco, colchester

7th carol Service, chapel of the Royal Hospital chelsea

15th christmas carol concert, St Botolph’s church, colchester

16th christmas carol concert, Hereford cathedral JANUARY 2011

29th Big curry with Guest Speaker Professor Richard Holmes, Royal Engineer Headquarters officers’ Mess, Brompton Barracks, chatham 11-12:00

For a more detailed look at all of our charity fundraising events, please visit soldierscharity.org/events-and-campaigns

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is proud to be a funding partner for Inside Right, a brand new project aimed at targeting young service veterans improve their health and wellbeing, encouraging them to take part in regular exercise, learn new football skills, meet other ex-servicemen and women and generally have fun! Inside Right will initially be piloted at five football clubs: Everton, Chelsea, Colchester United, Portsmouth and Lincoln City.

PARTNER

INSIDE RIGHT

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY


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Registered Charity No: 211645Scottish Registered Charity No: SC039189

AD-BC-frontlineNEW.indd 1 09/07/2010 12:32

In memory of Cpt Mark Hale, 2 Rifles, close friends Lt Col Nigel Moreland, Maj Carl “Chuckles” Boswell and PJ Luard undertook the run of their lives. It took them 874 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End in just 17 days; this equates to a double marathon a day! They crossed the finishing line on 26th June – Armed Forces Day – and hope to raise £100K to be split between three Service charities. The challenge title comes from the fact that Cpt Hale was ‘undentable’ – a word coined by his Commanding Officer.

66 Marathons in 66 cities in 66 days. This is the incredible challenge that Andy McMenemy has set himself. The current Guinness World Record of 52 consecutive marathons is held by a Japanese runner Akinori Kusada. Andy plans to beat this with an ambitious attempt that will see him running a marathon in each of the 66 cities in the UK, starting in Leeds on the 16th March 2011 and finishing in York 66 days later. This includes 6 in Scotland, 5 in Ireland, 5 in Wales and 50 in England. He has set himself a target of £66K to be raised through sponsorship and collection. We strongly urge you to help him smash this conservative target he has set himself and support him in any way you can in this unbelievable feat. Challenge 66 will be coming to a city near you next year so please, dig deep and make a difference, as every little bit helps. For more information please visit challenge66.org

FUNDRAISERS

THE UNDENTABLE RUN

FUNDRAISERS

INCREDIBLE WORLD MARATHON FEAT

Value 4 Valour, a scheme which gives serving personnel the opportunity to purchase two-for-one tickets at major sporting venues throughout the UK, has gone from strength to strength since recruiting a dedicated Project Co-ordinator. Seventeen racecourses including Ascot and Royal Windsor are now part of the scheme and this has now been extended to include football, rugby and ice-hockey. In addition to the discounted tickets, the venues allow ABF The Soldiers’ Charity at least one fundraising day per year.

Huge congratulations are due to the lads of 9 Regt Army Air Corps who ran, yes RAN, the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats in May! Despite six team members suffering leg injuries en route, it took them a mere 5 days, 4 hours and 26 minutes and they are on target to raise £20K for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and two other charities.

FUNDRAISERS

LAND’S END TO JOHN O’GROATS RUN


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The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry 2010 was a sell-out success which saw The Guildhall packed to its historic beams with a mix of city folk and senior Army Officers, hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and Alderman Nick Anstee with guest of honour HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Silent Auction and Draw were immensely popular and offered a unique collection of money-can’t-buy prizes, whilst food sponsor Noon Products laid on a delicious assortment of curries with ample liquid refreshment supplied from Berry Bros. & Rudd and Cobra Beer.

The event raised a phenomenal £185K, an amazing 83% increase on 2009. Every penny raised goes directly to the Current Operations Fund, which supports soldiers and their families affected by the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry is now firmly established as one of the unique events of the City’s annual calendar. Preparations have already started for next year’s Lord Mayor’s Big Curry so look out for the 2011 date.

FUNDRAISERS

LORD MAYOR’S EvENT CURRIES FAvOUR WITH THE CITY

SUPPORTING ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

SUPPORTING ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

Darren Day, Alice Barry from Shameless, X-Factor contestant Rachel Hylton and Jack Marsden from the award-winning Cops series are amongst the celebrities who teamed up to record Queen song ‘No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)’ to raise vital funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

The single, which was released on 12th July 2010, has been endorsed by Queen guitarist Brian May. All proceeds from the single, which will be available as a download, will go to The Soldiers’ Charity.

Darren feels it is a charity worth supporting: “I know and love this Queen song and I thought the lyric and sentiment behind it represented so well the heartache of loss, and the pride we feel in what our boys in the forces do for us. I am humbled by the sacrifices made for us, and I am honoured to contribute to this record and

to support the great work of The Soldiers’ Charity,” he said.

Other household favourites who contributed to the single include former Emmerdale actress and Dancing on Ice champ Hayley Tamaddon; Ian Aspinall who plays Holby City’s ‘Mubbs’; CBBC presenter Lorna Laidlow; comedian Frank Carson and actor Tim Healy.

For Coronation Street actor Mikey North, whose Weatherfield character bad-boy Gary Windass is about the join the Army, the cause is one which is close to his heart. “I would always want to support our lads in the forces, and it’s become more relevant to me because of my role in Coronation Street playing Gary Windass. Being involved with this song is my way of acknowledging the hard work and many sacrifices that are made for us by our young soldiers, many of them being lads my age who give up their lives to protect our way of life and liberty. Cheers lads,” said Mikey. Visit soldierscharity.org/shop to buy the single.

FUNDRAISERS

CELEBRITIES COLLABORATE FOR CHARITY SINGLE

AMOUNT RAISED £185,000


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A year of exceptional charity fundraising saw junior soldiers from Harrogate rewarded with a prestigious national prize for their efforts on behalf of our troops.In the presence of General The Lord Guthrie GCB LVO OBE President of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and former head of the Armed Forces, the junior soldiers serving at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate were awarded “The Carrington Drum”, a much sought after trophy, at a ceremony held in London for raising over £72K (pictured top left).

The Drum is awarded annually to the military unit that raises the most cash for The Soldiers’ Charity. It is the first time Harrogate has received the top award despite being runner-up three times in the past four years. The College raised the fundraising bar considerably by collecting over three times the amount raised by the winning unit last year.

Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, the charity’s Chief Executive, said: “I congratulate everyone at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate who were involved in this remarkable achievement.’

Speaking from his barracks in Harrogate, the AFC’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Ocock (pictured bottom left) explained: “Throughout the year we got the junior soldiers to conduct over forty fundraising events, all done in their own time, at weekends and evenings. “The reason we were able to raise so much money was due to the direct generosity of the people of Harrogate and all of the local North Yorkshire towns. We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to them on behalf of The Soldiers’ Charity for all of the fundraising they have allowed us to do.’

AWARD

PRESTIGIOUS FUNDRAISING PRIZE AWARDED TO JUNIOR SOLDIERS

Are you thinking about taking part in The Soldier Challenge? Wouldn’t it be great if you could improve your fitness and raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity at the same time?

Sci-MX Nutrition is the UK’s fastest-growing sports nutrition brand and has a range of products to help you reach any fitness goal. Whether you want to lose fat, add muscle, improve your physique or achieve better sporting performance, Sci-MX Nutrition has products to accelerate your results.

As part of their on-going commitment to helping our troops, Sci-MX are offering you an exclusive discount on their award- winning products as well as donating 5% of every purchase to The Soldiers’ Charity.

To take advantage of this exclusive offer, and support The Soldiers’ Charity at the same time, go to sci-mx.co.uk/soldierscharity where you’ll be able to get your £10 off discount code.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT £10 OFF FOR ALL READERS

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is launching an exciting new event on 26th March 2011 to help raise more funds for our soldiers. The Soldier Challenge is a military themed urban adventure race across London for teams of up to 4, from all walks of life.

Some of the most famous landmarks in the capital will see soldiers and civvies alike navigating their way around for half a day by any means necessary on a treasure hunt like adventure.

Dotted all over the urban landscape the checkpoints will test you to the limits of your physical and mental abilities, giving a real insight into the life of a soldier and what it takes to “be the best”. If you fancy attempting an assault course next to the Tower of London, abseiling in the City or leopard crawling through Hyde Park; then The Soldier Challenge is the perfect event for you. It’s a great day out and an opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest cities in a totally new light.

FUNDRAISERS

BE A SOLDIER FOR A DAY

Up for the challenge? To enter the event, mobilise your squad and register online. Start fundraising now and support our soldiers!

soldierchallenge.co.uk

AMOUNT RAISED £72,000

FOR ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY


NeWSBIG CURRY

Ingredients:2 Tablespoons groundnut or sunflower oil

1.8kg/4lb chicken, jointed

2 Onions, chopped

1 Large red chilli pepper, thinly sliced*

2 Tablespoons grated root ginger

¼ Teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ Teaspoon turmeric

300ml/½ pint chicken stock

300ml/½ pint coconut milk, see right

5cm/2 inch piece of cinnamon stick

1 Teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

2 Tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

115g/4oz fresh dates, weight when stoned

*core and dress before slicing for a less hot taste

Serves 4 - 6

Method:

Heat the oil, add the chicken and onions, stir over

a low heat until both ingredients are a pale golden

colour. Lift the chicken from the pan. Stir the chilli,

ginger, cayenne and turmeric into the onions and

heat gently for 1 minute. Pour in the stock and milk.

Bring to the boil then return the chicken to the pan

with the rest of the ingredients. Cover tightly and

then simmer very gently for 1½ to 2 hours or until

the chicken is very tender. Remove the cinnamon

stick. Serve with cooked rice, a sweet chutney

and extra dates.

Note: to achieve a firmer textured chicken increase

the cooking time to 1¼ from 1½ hours.

To make coconut milk

In the 1970’s this was not readily available in cans

and the recommended method of obtaining the milk

was as follows:

(A) halve a fresh coconut, remove the white flesh and

grate it. Pour 300ml/½ pint boiling water over the

flesh, leave until cold. Strain through gauze then

squeeze the gauze firmly to extract as much juice

as possible.

(B) use 85g/3oz desiccated coconut and follow

method (A).

From a century of British cooking by

Marguerite Patten, published by Grub Street

Marguerite Patten is one of Britain’s best known and best loved cookery writers. She is the doyenne of British cookery and the author of over 170 books and numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Recipient of multiple honours, it has just been announced that she has been made a cBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Her career spans more than half a century; she has been teaching Britain how to cook since before World War II working for the Ministry of Food. She had a weekly television programme in the early days of broadcasting, in the late 1940’s and throughout the 1950’s. Since then she has also lectured, given thousands of demonstrations and written countless articles and cookery cards. She lives in Brighton and still works as a writer, demonstrator and broadcaster, and we are very grateful to her for allowing us to reproduce her chicken curry recipe. Ministry of Food.

“There are so many excellent and popular curries from various areas of the world that it is difficult to select just one. I have therefore chosen a great favourite of mine. Towards the end of the war my husband was appointed a relieving commanding officer to various R.A.F. staging posts in West Africa; this is the curry he enjoyed there. It was known as ‘chicken chop’ and has a very hot taste.”


££££££

Big Curry is THE national campaign of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

It is an opportunity for you to have fun whilst raising much needed funds for The Soldiers’ Charity. Big Curry is simple, easy and most importantly, fun. It’s an event you can hold at home, work, a restaurant or a school.

If you missed out on participating in Big Curry this April, don’t miss out in 2011!

HOW DID WE DO IN 2010? Income raised £100K

– Number of Big curry events held around the country 266

– Number of schools that held a Big curry 19

– Number of soldiers who held a Big curry 77

– Number of companies that held a Big curry 35

– Highest amount raised from a Big curry £18,000

Help us raise even more money by organising your own Big Curry in April 2011. Check bigcurry.org/fl for more details.

‘Hot hot hot! Chicken Chop’


loCAl UPDATe

The Big Fry Fish & Chip shop opposite the back gate of Lille Barracks in North Camp donated the entire takings for one day in April to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The staff all volunteered their time free of charge and extra funds were raised by a raffle and sale of The Soldiers’ Charity bags and badges. Despite the fact that the day chosen turned out to be BBQ weather, enough people opted for a fish & chip Sunday dinner to raise a whopping £1,400 on the day.

HOME COUNTIES

BIG FRY FISH & CHIPS

Wales University OTC put a team in for the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon and raised in excess of £2K, and we were one of the charities included in a Cardiff Waitrose collection scheme which raised £330. The Soldiers concert was performed at 2 venues in Wales (Cardiff and Rhyl) – retiring collections made about £1,400.

Some of Suffolk’s successes this year have been a collection at the Ipswich branch of ASDA which raised £420, a cheque of £2,250 from Woodbridge Rotary Club following a very successful lecture by 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) RE on operations in Afghanistan, and a Beating Retreat and concert by the Band of The Parachute Regiment at Ipswich that raised over £1,600.

Thanks to Captain Rick Young, who organised the Army Cross Country Steeplechase last November and who raised £950 .

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The Army Point to Point in February was a great success, despite the very British weather. The crowd were very generous at the exit collection and £2K was raised for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

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On 23rd February Tony Moorby, RDF West, handed over the keys to the new minibus, converted for disabled use, to Lady Wall, wife of C-in-C Land Forces at the Services Centre Corsham. The facilities at Corsham are excellent and two chalets of family accommodation have also been converted for disabled use.

WALES

SILvERSTONE HALF MARATHON

SUFFOLK

SUCCESS

WEST

NEWS UPDATESCOTLAND

RUGBY, GMTv AND RANGERS

It was fantastic to see many younger people attending a talk held in May, in Jersey, given by Col David Richmond and Capt Colette Davey RAMC who has recently returned from being the RMO of 3 Rifles in a FOB on “The Realities of Service in Afghanistan”. The undoubted interest in this area was reflected in the £8,500 raised.

JERSEY

£8,500 RAISED

Norfolk’s annual Big Curry took place in the Officers’ Mess of The Light Dragoons at Robertson Barracks, Swanton Morley, on Sunday 7th March, raising just over £1K.

NORFOLK

ANNUAL BIG CURRY

In the West Midlands, significant donations were received from 4th Battalion, the Mercian Regiment and from 123 (Ammunition) Squadron RLC(V). We were most fortunate to be selected by the Land Rover Employees’ Support Committee to receive over £5K from their charitable fund.

WEST MIDLANDS

AMAZING NEWS

Several Big Curry events have been held, with Sir Andrew Ogilvie-Wedderburn running a very successful one in the North East, 2 Division hosting one in Craigiehall HQ and a group of chefs from 2 SCOTS doing a superb cook up. Next year we have a promise from South Ayrshire that they will do a Big Curry as a Provost’s Charity event.

SCOTLAND

BIG CURRY

UPDATES FRoM THE REGIoNS

51 Brigade organised for the Army in Scotland Rugby Team to play Stirling County at Stirling’s own ground. Gavin Hastings, the scourge of ‘The Auld Enemy’ on the field when he played for Scotland, started the match after the ball was dropped in by a member of the Golden Lions Army Parachute team. In a close match, Stirling won by 1 point and we hope this will become an annual event.

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Lorraine Kelly of GMTV fame is also an Honorary Colonel of the Black Watch Battalion ACF and has agreed to help ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in future events.

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2 SCOTS soldiers and Cadets from Glasgow University OTC helped to raise over £3K collecting at a single Glasgow Rangers football match.


loCAl UPDATe

The law of the courtroom is not something usually associated with charity events, but Judge Charles Ackroyd of the Hampshire Committee organised a terrific showing of the famous one man play, “The Trial of Penn and Mead”. The event itself took place in Southampton Law Courts and was a salutary experience for those of us who have yet to experience the starkness of a courtroom.

The Big Curry, held at Cambridge University OTC on 24 April was the most successful ever for Cambridge, attended by 94 people and raising the sum of £3,411.

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The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) marched through Cambridge on 14 June 2010; we fielded 60 collectors along the route.

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The Commanding Officer of Cambridge University OTC, Lt Col Seb Pollington RTR, has announced that ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the chosen charity for the OTC for the next two years.

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Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force has adopted ABF The Soldiers Charity as its chosen charity for this year; 800 cadets in 27 detachments will be involved in fundraising.

HAMPSHIRE

COURTROOM DRAMA

CAMBRIDGE

UPDATE

ESSEX

HARWICH PIPE BAND

Bedfordshire’s main event was held on 5th June at Southill House, Biggleswick, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Charles Whitbread, and was a great success with a record number of 340 tickets sold. The Beating Retreat was performed by the Minden Band of The Queen’s Division, while support for the event was provided by personnel from the Defence Intelligence & Security Centre (DISC).

BEDFORDSHIRE

SELL-OUT Our North West Essex committee held its annual Big Curry on Saturday 28th February in the Officers’ Mess of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) RE at Carver Barracks, Wimbish, raising over £2,500.

The new Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Mrs Sonia Lewis, has recently announced that she will be giving priority to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity among her chosen charities during her year in office.

The Mid-Essex committee held its annual Beating Retreat at Hatfield Peverel on Saturday 5 June, featuring the Harwich Pipe Band. The event was a great success, raising a total of just under £4,400.

What’s the one piece of advice you would like to pass to other fundraisers?Think what will work, not what is big! Lots of small events are better than headline events that don’t work well.

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Fundraising targets are being met despite the current economic climate. Why do you think this is? We have the support of the public still and they are not ‘war weary’ to the point of being antagonistic towards the soldiers.

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Scotland is the greatest in the UK. Discuss! Scotland is quite obviously the most important part of the Celtic fringe and provides some of the best soldiers in the Army (with the exception of the Irish)

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You have such a diverse amount of events taking place - how should we be supporting your regional activities over the next 6 months? Understanding that Scotland is different and what works in England will not necessarily have the same impact in Scotland – be responsive to national differences and tastes and put distinctively Scottish soldiers as the face of the charity in Scotland and in national materials. Members of the Scottish Parliament are less likely to be impressed by what the charity is doing for soldiers as a group and more impressed by what is happening to Scottish soldiers and veterans.

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If you could pick anyone from any point in history to shake a tin for you – who would it be?Attila the Hun for creative fundraising in a different way!!R

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Roy Robertson Director ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Scotland


loCAl UPDATe

The first Lord Mayor’s Big Curry event to be held outside London took place in Manchester on the 14th January, with over 100 people paying £30 a ticket. Hosted by the Lord Mayor, the City of Manchester kindly bore the cost of the venue. After lunch a 20 minute presentation was given on Afghanistan by CO 207 General Hospital and his Regimental Sergeant Major. There was a silent auction and Gift Aid envelopes were available on the tables for donations. The event made over £7K, boosted by a signed copy of Stuart Tootal’s book Danger Close that was auctioned for £100 but when the envelope was opened it contained a cheque for £2K.

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The 2nd Annual St Annes St George’s Day Festival proved very successful. The event commenced with a Flag Raising Ceremony and Procession led by the Band of the King’s Division. The celebrations continued throughout the weekend with a Ball and a Family Fun Day on Lytham Green on the Sunday that attracted around 8,000 people.ABF The Soldiers’ Charity shared the profits with a children’s hospice and a sports foundation with our 50% share raising £15K.

During Ladies Day, held at Nottingham Racecourse on Saturday 8th May, members from 170 Engineer Group from Chilwell sold the charity’s wristbands. They have invited ABF The Soldiers’ Charity back for next year and agreed to host a Big Curry in April 2011.

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A.F.C. Fylde hosted a football match in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity on 16th May. Martin Booker, Business Development Manager, said “It’s a great link up for the club and I believe it will be of great benefit to the Armed Forces”. As a club we are always looking to build strong community links in the area”.

NOTTINGHAM

LADIES DAYNORTH WEST

INSPIRATIONAL EvENTS

The Hereford Branch held a very successful Big Curry in March at the Sergeants’ Mess of the local regiment, attended by 200 people and raising over of £7K. The star prize, a visit to Highgrove for a guided tour, arranged by the Chairman, went for £1K.

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Hereford organised a fun run in conjunction with Herefordshire Aero Club around Shobdon Airport in May. With 160 runners taking part, they were so impressed by the event they expressed their desire for an upgrade to a formal race in 2011, which will mean a substantial increase in runners and income.

HEREFORD

UPDATE“It has been a record year in every sphere, reflecting devoted and focused efforts from staff, volunteers, the Army and our supporters.Fantastic - thank you.” Brigadier David Shaw, Director Regional Fundraising and Liaison

What’s the one piece of advice you would like to pass to other fundraisers?Remember to appreciate even the smallest donation!

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Fundraising targets are being met despite the current economic climate. Why do you think this is? The clue is in the name, even in these tough economic circumstances ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is still reaching targets because they work and care for soldiers. The cause is a great one.

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london is the greatest in the UK. Discuss! We have access to a large population who understand our message of a greater need for our soldiers and who have been fantastic in giving money at events such as the Chelsea Flower Show. The support from the Army in London has also proven invaluable!

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You have such a diverse amount of events taking place - how should we be supporting your regional activities over the next 6 months? By attending them! Come along to the British Military Tournament on 4/5th December which will be fantastic, or the Carol Service on the 7th December. Attendance means support!

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If you could pick anyone from any point in history to shake a tin for you – who would it be?Churchill or William Wallace – both fought for the freedom we enjoy today.R

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Tim Coles Regional Director of Fundraising, london


oPINIoN PIeCe

COLONEL STUART TOOTAL

This became plainly apparent when we returned to the UK and I struggled to get the support that I needed from the system for the wounded, their families and the next of kin of the soldiers who lost their lives. As well as setting up our own charity to try and fill the gap, I also turned to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The financial help and advice they gave 3 PARA was excellent. It helped us meet our first commitment to buy a mobility vehicle for Sergeant Paddy Caldwell who was paralysed by a Taliban bullet. Driven personally by the Chief Executive, Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, they put in £6,000 without hesitation and then galvanised several other charities to do the same, which meant that by the time Paddy returned to the unit there was a brand new vehicle waiting for him. This is typical of what The Soldiers’ Charity does in meeting the individual need of the soldier, both serving and retired. It also helps look after their families.

The official welfare system provided by the MOD and the NHS for supporting our soldiers, veterans and their families is better than it was. But it is still not where it needs to be, not least as many other units now have similar experiences to deal with in terms of high levels of casualties taken as a result of serving in Afghanistan.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this situation, The Soldiers’ Charity meets a pressing need in helping to fill this gap. Focusing on individual welfare provision, it also works with the proliferation of other service charities both at a Regimental and national level, and continues to do much to coordinate their joint activities. The support the charity is providing in helping to coordinate the Army’s current large scale initiative to ‘recover, rehabilitate and resettle’ injured personnel is a case in point.

None of this comes without cost. For the last two years The Soldiers’ Charity has seen a 30 per cent increase in demand for their services. Through a lot of hard work and the generosity of many people they met their target of raising £7 million in 2009. However, by 2015 it is estimated that this figure will need to have increased to £14 million. Consequently, there continues to be a pressing need to assist them through donations and fundraising events and I would commend those who have an interest in supporting the individual soldier, veteran and their families to do whatever they can to support The Soldiers’ Charity.

In 2006 I commanded 3 PARA, which was the first UK battle group to deploy to Helmand in southern Afghanistan. As we were the first to go, the MOD’s official welfare system was simply not geared up to deal with the scale of casualties we took as a result of the fighting we engaged in, which at the time was described as the most intense level of combat experienced by the British Army since the Korean War.

IN SUPPORT OF ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

Buckingham Palace Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 195mm x 137mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Spread some Christmas cheer by sending one of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity specially selected range of Christmas cards. Each card comes in a pack of 10, and can be ordered by either phone, fax or through soldierscharity.org/christmas. You could also show your support by buying a pack of our new notelets, our 2011 diary or The Soldiers’ Charity tie.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

09

Madonna and ChildInside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 137mm x 195mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Santa Supports the Soldiers Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 137mm x 195mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Around the Tree Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 150mm x 150mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

How Father Christmas came to Earth Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 150mm x 150mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

08

Christmas Tree Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 128mm x 128mm Quantity: 10 Price: £3.50

0102

03

07

DIARY 2011

11

❄YoUR SUPPoRT

GIVeS THeM

SUPPoRT

12 13 14 152011 Diary Quantity: 1 Price: £4.00

Harmony (Notelet) Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 100mm x 140mm Quantity: 10 Price: £6.00

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Notelet) Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 140mm x 100mm Quantity: 10 Price: £6.00

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity tie Quantity: 1 tie per pack Price: £20.00

Black Lab Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 195mm x 137mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Angel Musicians Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 150mm x 150mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Robin Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 150mm x 150mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

Guardsman Inside: Blank for your own personal message Size: 137mm x 195mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

04

05

06

Skating at Somerset House Inside: With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Size: 195mm x 137mm Quantity: 10 Price: £5.00

10

SUB TOTAL

UK P&P £3.25

DONATION

TOTAL

Christmas Tree

How Father Christmas came to Earth Blank inside

Around the Tree

Angel Musicians

Robin

Guardsman Blank inside

Madonna and Child

Santa Supports the Soldiers

Buckingham Palace Blank inside

Skating at Somerset House

Black Lab Blank inside

2011 Diary

Harmony (Notelet) Blank inside

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Notelet) Blank inside

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity tie

NUMBER DESCRIPTION NO. OF PACKS TOTAL

£3.50

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£5.00

£4.00

£6.00

£6.00

£20.00

PRICE

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Payment

Please debit my:

card number:

Last 3/4 digits on signature strip

Expiry date Start date Sec no

visa Mastercard Maestro cAF card (donations only) Amex

[Switch only]

[Switch only]

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£

Full name:

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Day Tel No:

Date:

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I want the charity to treat all donations I have made in the four years prior to this year, and all donations I make hereafter to be regarded as Gift Aid donations until further notice.

Note that you must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that ABF The Soldiers’ charity reclaims on your donations in the appropriate tax year.

Thank you for your donation!

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity will hold and use the data you have supplied to inform you of our fundraising news and events and other activities. We do not pass your details on to any other organisations. If you do not wish to receive this information, please tick this box:

YOURSUPPORTGIvESTHEMSUPPORT

LAST oRDER DATE FRIDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2010

POST ABF The Soldiers’ charity christmas cards, The Right Sort Mailing Ltd Unit 29, Penley Hall Ind. Park Penley Wrexham LL13 0LQ

CALL01948 831 032 (between 9am and 5pm) FAX01948 831 505

ONLINEsoldierscharity.org/christmas

Post Complete the order form and return to:

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Christmas Cards The Right Sort Mailing Ltd Unit 29, Penley Hall Ind. Park Penley, Wrexham, LL13 0LQ

Please remember to include a cheque or enter your debit or credit card details in the form below. Cheques are made payable to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Call01948 831 032 (between 9am and 5pm)

FaxComplete the order form and fax to 01948 831 505. Please remember to include your debit or credit card details.

Onlinesoldierscharity.org/christmas

We think that this year’s selection of cards is our best yet, and placing your order couldn’t be easier. Please follow the instructions below and remember that last orders this year are Friday 10th December.

All packs and notelets contain ten cards and envelopes


NeWS

Leading military history publisher Frontline Books has agreed to offer readers a launch offer on two new books. each will be discounted by 10% and a further 20% of the retail price will be donated to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.The first book [pictured] on offer is Trevor Royle’s critically acclaimed, gripping biography, Orde Wingate: A Man of Genius, 1903-1944. The book’s usual retail price is £16.99 but for anyone ordering using the code below, the price will be £15.30. On every order, £3.40 will be donated to The Soldiers’ Charity.

The second book [pictured] is a new edition of The Alexander Memoirs, 1940-1944 The book features a new introduction by James Holland and a new foreword by Shane Alexander, the second Earl of Tunis and son of the author. The £19.99 retail price has been discounted to £17.99 and £4.00 from every book sold will be donated to The Soldiers’ Charity.

ORDEWINGATEA Man of Genius 1903–1944

OR

DE W

ING

AT

E

royle

A M

an of Genius

Winston Churchill described Wingate as a ‘man of genius who might well have become a man of destiny’. Tragically, he died in an aircraft crash in an Indian

jungle in 1944.

Like his famous kinsman Lawrence of Arabia, Wingate was renowned for being an unorthodox soldier, inclined to reject received patterns of military thought. He was a fundamentalist Christian with a zealous certainty in himself and his mission. He is best remembered as the charismatic and abrasive leader of the Chindits. With the

support of Wavell, he was responsible for pioneering a strategy of using independent groups deep behind enemy lines, supported only by air drops.

Wingate led the charge of 2,000 Ethiopians and the Sudan Defence Force into Italian-occupied Abyssinia. Remarkably, he defeated a 40,000 strong enemy that was

supported by aircraft and artillery, resources Wingate did not possess.

Despite his achievements, Wingate suffered from illness and depression and attempted suicide in Cairo. He was not universally liked: his romantic Zionism contrasted with the traditional British Arabist notions. He did, however, lead

from the front and marched, ate and bunked with his men.

In this authoritative biography, which has been updated with new material and introduced by Andrew Roberts, Trevor Royle expertly brings to life a ruthless,

complex, arrogant – but ultimately admirable – general.

trevor royle is an author and broadcaster specialising in the history of war and empire, with more than 30 books to his credit. His latest book is The Road to Bosworth, a study of the War of the Roses. He is a columnist for the Sunday Herald

and is an Honorary Fellow at Edinburgh University’s School of History. He was born in India in 1945.

andrew roberts is a leading British historian and author. His critically acclaimed books include Masters and Commanders: How Roosevelt, Churchill, Marshall

and Alanbrooke Won the War in the West and The Storm of War: a New History of the Second World War.

‘Royle’s cool study of this granite enigma makes fascinating reading’

THE SCOTSMAN

frontline booksan imprint ofPen & Sword Books Limited47 Church StreetBarnsley, S. Yorkshires70 2asEmail: [email protected]

I S BN 978-1-84832-572-2

9 781848 325722

9 0 0 0 0

uk £16.99

Jacket design: www.spikyshooz.comPrinted in Great Britain

trevor royleintroduction by andrew roberts

The Alexander Memoirs, 1940–1945FIELD-MARSHAL EARL ALEXANDER OF TUNIS

Foreword by Shane AlexanderIntroduction by James Holland

SPEcIAL oFFER

FRONTLINE BOOKS

For both books, readers need to phone 01226 734222 or visit pen-and-sword.co.uk quoting the reference code ‘ABFSoldier’. If you do not quote the reference then no money will be donated to The Soldiers’ charity!

1. Tell us in one sentence why you support ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

I believe passionately in supporting our Armed Forces in what they do and give in my name, and feel that they deserve our unconditional support, praise and gratitude.

2. How do you think you make a difference? I hope that, in giving my time and passion to supporting this

charity, and by talking to ordinary members of the public about this charity, I can raise awareness of what our Armed Forces need and help them.

3. Sum yourself up in three words. Passionate, compassionate, generous.

4. What’s the best bit of advice anyone has ever given you?

Several:

Do anything you want, so long as no-one gets hurt, and that includes you.

Never judge others.

There are two sides to every story.

5. Congratulations – you have the day off today! What do you plan to do?

Drive to the countryside and walk through lush green grass with my shoes off and finish with a picnic under a large oak tree with the dappled spring sun shining through the leaves.

1. Tell us in one sentence why you support ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

I support the charity because it is something that I believe in, having served for 39 years man and boy.

2. How do you think you make a difference? I get great satisfaction in raising monies for such a good

cause and I am good value because they get a full time fundraiser for a part time 17hrs a week.

3. Sum yourself up in three words. Mad.

4. What’s the best bit of advice anyone has ever given you?

Work hard, keep your sense of humour, stay flexible and enjoy life.

5. Congratulations – you have the day off today! What do you plan to do?

Enjoy it. Don’t get many (‘Ho Ho’) nearly 65.

5 QUESTIONS WITH

Anne Richards Volunteer

5 QUESTIONS WITH

lieutenant Colonel Jack Tarr Regional Director of Fundraising, East Midlands

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?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????


FEATURE

Dr Rob Johnson is the Deputy Director of the oxford Changing Character of War Programme and lecturer in the History of War at oxford University. His primary research interests are the history of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran including conventional operations, irregular warfare and counter-insurgency, intelligence and strategy. He teaches on the History of War in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century, and on Afghanistan. His recent publications include: How to Win on the Battlefield (Thames and Hudson, 2010), Oil, Islam and Conflict (Reaktion, 2008) and Spying for Empire (Greenhill, 2006). Rob gives Frontline his fascinating view of current operations in Afghanistan within the historical context of past conflicts.

STATE oF THE cAMPAIGN IN AFGHANISTAN:

HOW DOES IT END?


When you are in the midst of war, it is hard to envisage the outcome. In Iraq in 2006, most counselled that the Western Coalition had simply failed and that there should be a general withdrawal. It took some courage on the part of the American government to see it through. Similar comments of imminent defeat now accompany the Afghanistan campaign narrative. The British public have become accustomed to a steady trickle of casualties and the now almost weekly passage of coffins bedecked with union flags through the town of Wootton Bassett. The respectful and quiet sentinels of that town represent national support of servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price. When General Petraeus took command in Iraq in the darkest days of the occupation, his aides were eager to brief him on the situation as it then stood. But Petraeus had the vision to make a different request. He asked: ‘Show me how this ends.’

Afghanistan has been and continues to be a tough fight, but fighting is only a part of the overall strategy. Although rarely articulated with clarity by the last government, the aim is to stabilise Afghanistan enough that it can deny its territorial space to Al Qaeda and to its nefarious affiliates. The collapse of the Afghan state would, it is said, lead to the failure of other states of the region, not least our nuclear-armed ally Pakistan. Preventing the meltdown of the region is critically important to British national interests and indeed to the globe. It is not just a case of ‘preventing terrorism on the streets of Britain’. It is far more serious than that.

The pursuit of global terrorists to Afghanistan and the desire to prevent their return has meant taking on a more general insurgency. The insurgents remain committed to increasing their support as they have failed to create a national movement. They aim to inflict casualties, especially on Coalition forces, in order to

break the domestic political will of the West. The insurgents seek to undermine efforts of good Afghan governance, setting up their own kangaroo courts to punish those they accuse of collaboration. Their strategic goals are to expel foreign forces from Afghanistan and re-establish a state underpinned by the most austere interpretations of Sharia law. But, as many Afghan experts point out, the Taliban lack either the legitimacy or the capability to establish themselves in power over the whole country. Old divisions keep resurfacing amongst rival leaders. They are often dependent on intimidation. They have been accused of mistreating the population by taking children to fight, maiming ‘traitors’, killing women or shooting women whom they believe have brought dishonour on their communities and forcing people to pay ‘donations’. Brutality against the people has sometimes caused a backlash, forcing the Taliban to reissue a ‘Laheya’ (Code of Conduct) last year. They claim foreigners are backing a corrupt government and that the Americans will leave Afghanistan in 2011 because they are beaten.

Britain has a long history of tackling insurgencies. Robert Thompson, in Defeating Communist Insurgency (1966), was one of several officers who tried to capture the essence of what Britain had learned in these conflicts. He wrote: ‘The government should formulate long-term political aims, backed by political and economic initiatives; these in turn will be supported by a counter-insurgency plan involving the police, the armed forces and any locally-raised militias’. David Kilcullen, an experienced Australian specialist has noted: ‘Counter-insurgency is about the population and it’s about building a long-term viable, genuine partnership with the population. … if you can effectively do that and you can put in place a political solution at the local level that works, then all sorts of other things become possible.’ He notes: ‘Our forces will never be as good as Afghan forces at understanding Afghanistan, nor should we try and make them so. What we need to do is use the [Coalition] forces in a sort of temporary holding pattern to allow a breathing space for the Afghan forces to build up to the point where they can handle the environment.’

This then is the Western Coalition plan. Build local capacity. There has been an enormous expansion of the Afghan National Security forces, now over 100,000, fully partnered with the Coalition: they share bases, patrols, and the risks, ‘shoma ba shoma’(shoulder to shoulder) as the Afghans say. The focus is on helping the Afghans develop self-reliance so that Coalition forces will gradually move from frontline work, through mentoring and training, to a position of ‘overwatch’.

Building local forces is only the first step in improving security for the people. The results from Operation Moshtarak last year are encouraging if not yet conclusive. Besides security, there are plans for roads, schools, clinics, and energy supplies; there

are hopes that district governance will be become normalised, and provide the vital link between village politics and national governance.

Much still needs to be done. There are accusations of unchecked abuse of power and money by many Afghan officials which is discrediting the government of Afghanistan at all levels – not unlike our own expenses scandal. President Karzai has struggled to get the right people into positions of power because politics relies on patronage rather than competence and qualification. The smuggling of raw materials, co-option of contracting processes, capture of development resources and customs revenues, and the lubrication of narco-dollars are persistent problems. However, there are a number of agencies working to root out the offenders. Of Afghan interviewees, 70% think that the Afghan government is doing well in tackling corruption. For the Afghans, a sense of security remains their priority, followed by a desire for jobs, a curb on price rises, tackling petty corruption and lastly, the presence of insurgents.

The Coalition has developed its key tenets for victory. The Coalition wants to build momentum against the insurgents, to foster reconciliation for those Pashtun-Afghans who joined the insurgents, to initiate development projects and a sense of opportunity, to achieve transparency in government, and to foster local governance that delivers. There is much humility amongst Coalition troops who see the need to restore Afghan dignity and leadership.

No-one is under any illusion that the end state will resemble the sort of victory that characterised 1918 or 1945. Afghanistan will remain poor. It will be Bangladesh not Switzerland. It will have a central government but hopefully a strong system of district level governance that will hold the Kabul elite accountable. It will have a competent civil service and functioning security forces. It will enjoy a good working relationship with its neighbours. It will almost certainly still be plagued by militant groups and its political life will be marred with violence. But the acme of war is to defeat the insurgents’ strategy. In many ways, this has been achieved. The insurgents have failed to deliver their caliphate. Pakistan is secure. Afghanistan has an embryonic democracy and now the potential to develop a viable economy.

The alternative future seems unbearable. A country wracked with years of civil war, millions displaced or ‘ethnically-cleansed’ from their homeland. Perpetual warfare along the borders with neighbouring states. A tottering Pakistan forced to strike deals with terrorist factions. The gloating swagger and arrogance of Jihadists who claim to have defeated the West and who promote a full spectrum global war. This is not the way that it ends, is it?

FEATURE

‘our forces will never be as good as Afghan forces at understanding Afghanistan, nor should we try and make them so. What we need to do is use the [Coalition] forces in a sort of temporary holding pattern to allow a breathing space for the Afghan forces to build up to the point where they can handle the environment.’


FUNDRAISING

Top 5 Fundraising Tips

Wife, mum and all round super- woman Mel North coordinated the incredible Support Our Troops Challenge, raising over £25K for our charity. Here are her top tips for achieving your fundraising target.

Retired soldier Howard Johnson of The Welch

Regiment is a London Marathon veteran having run

it for the 12th time this year. He kindly shared some

of his years of experience with us.

01 Prior to the event, plan as much detail as possible, make a list of how much everything will cost to produce your event, then think about where and how you are going to raise money to deliver it.

02 Be tough and strong when asking people for sponsorship, this is the hardest part of fundraising but you have to remember why and who you are raising the money for.

03 Know your facts and figures about your chosen charity, this helps immensely when asking for sponsorship, freebie auction prizes and people’s time.

04 Advertise the event as much as possible; flyers, posters, Facebook, all media is really important. We mailed and rang all the local papers and TV stations constantly until we got a result.

05 Get all your friends and family on board.

01 Try and get something in the newspaper, don’t just rely on online donations, tell people your story and give them a choice of methods for how they can donate.

02 The personal touch is essential! Make the effort to talk and thank people, don’t be afraid to tell people about your charity and why they need your support.

03 The more you talk the more publicity you’ll get, I got on Radio Wales and in the local newspaper!

04 Any amount large or small is welcome, accept graciously. I’ve had donations as small as £1 but every little helps!

05 Make the most of your contacts, this was my 12th marathon but I know a lot of people in my local community and my wife is in the Women’s Institute so people were happy to keep donating to such a deserving cause.

2010 has been a phenomenal year with Team Soldiers’ Charity runners breaking records, smashing targets and being all round incredible supporters!

Our team of 88 runners in the 2010 virgin London Marathon achieved a fantastic 50% increase in fundraising raising over £120K. All our runners did an amazing job and there are some people who we want to give an extra special thanks to:

FUNDRAISING HEROES

We also give a special thanks

to cpt Barry Stoddart who at

the Fleet Half Marathon in

June, smashed the Guinness

Book of Records Half

Marathon Record wearing

military uniform and carrying

40Ib! Barry broke the world

record with a time of 1:44:51

and also smashed his

fundraising target of £5K

2010 also saw our first

ever teams for the Adidas

Silverstone Half Marathon

and the Bupa London 10K

which were so successful

they are now annual dates

in the charity calendar.

cpt Ross carter ran the

26-mile route dressed in a

2 stone giant soldier costume.

He was hardly able to see the

route through the unusually

large head but shrugged off

such a minor problem saying

“I just followed the white line”.

cpl Garry Sussex set

the bar dangerously high

after completing the

Marathon carrying a 46kg

(101lb) Bergen. The epic feat

took him a gruelling 11:24:00.

Wow!

Sapper Jamie Peace, Sapper

chris Underhill & Sapper

Adam Bannister tabbed the

entire race carrying 20kg

(44lb) Bergens.They were kept

moving by their dedication to

raising money for the charity,

as well as a rather large

helping of determination

and madness.


FUNDRAISING

Registered Charity No: 211645 Scottish Registered Charity No: SC039189

SKYDIVE FOR ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITYExperience the thrill of a lifetime, raising vital funds for soldiers, former soldiers and their families.

Join Team Soldiers’ Charity and The Tigers Parachute Display Team for the ultimate adrenaline challenge. Our fi rst fl agship charity jump day in July was an overwhelming success and you can still join us for our next jump on 1 October. Alternatively take part as an individual at one of many drop zones across the country.

For more information call 0845 034 7966Email [email protected] the info pack soldierscharity.org

1 SECOND TO CHANGE YOUR MIND

13,500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND

120 MILES PER HOUR

4,000+ SOLDIERS TO HELP EVERY YEAR

0845 034 7966 THE NUMBER TO CALL

Ad_Skydive_frontline.indd 1 06/07/2010 14:48


CoRPoRATe PARTNeRSHIPS

WORKING TOGETHER WITH BAE SYSTEMS

CYCLING THE SEA 2 SEA CHALLENGE

LEADERSHIP FORUM vOLUNTEERS

The Leadership Forum is the Senior Management Team of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia and here they are depicted volunteering at the Fulwood Barracks Community Garden project which includes areas for all ages of the Army family to enjoy, including disabled facilities for plant and vegetable areas. This project started on 26th March and will be finished this summer.

WITH THANKSBedding Plant Sale , 12th May 2010, Amount Raised ~ £1,397.30, Delta Force Triathlon, 1st Feb to 12th May 2010, Amount Raised ~ £2,050 (to date), Tour de Anglesey Bike Ride, 14th to 16th May 2010, Amount Raised ~ iro £1,500 (approx) Coast to Coast Bike Ride, 21st to 23rd May 2010, Amount Raised ~ £1,023 (to date)

Does your company or organisation have a Charity of the Year scheme?

Many large national companies support a different charity every year and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is looking for supporters to nominate us. This will provide us with the opportunity to apply and potentially raise lots of money to fund our work whilst raising the profile of who we help. So please contact your corporate social responsibility department

and nominate The Soldiers’ Charity. We have a corporate fundraising team who are experienced at managing national partnerships. We can make your company a proposal demonstrating the impact that the money raised by your staff will have on the lives of soldiers, former soldiers and their families.

If you have any questions please contact Alison Miller on [email protected]

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

A GARDEN FOR ALL AGES

The Weeton Barracks Community Garden Project incorporates areas for all ages as well as an area for remembrance of casualties of conflicts. The project was started on 5th February and completed with considerable volunteering from both BAE Systems sites for the opening by Maj Gen Farquhar on 9th April.

Before After

RUN MARK RUNA huge thanks must go to Mark Willett, of the Warton site, who ran the Edinburgh Marathon for us and exceeded his fundraising target of £26.22 for every mile of the 26.22 that he ran.

‘I made it round the 26.2 mile course - in blistering heat - in a time of 3:39:27 - 10 minutes slower than I’d hoped for - but pretty good considering it was 25 degrees with no wind. I met a man from the Royal Logistics Corps who was also running for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and said how much he appreciated all of my efforts. I was also inspired when I passed a veteran running with a metal leg and his hand missing.’

A CoRPoRATe PARTNeRSHIP MADe ReAlKATHRYN TAYLOR, BAE SYSTEMS

The 2010 Charity Challenge theme for BAE Systems is the Armed Forces, and the workforce at the Warton and Samlesbury sites chose to support ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

The charity will have the support of BAe Systems for two years and are very enthusiastic about being involved in the Charity Challenge programme.

“Since starting, I have been getting to know our partner charity and being involved has certainly opened my eyes to a new world of the Armed Forces.

Hearing the stories of brave men and women first hand is very different from seeing them on the news, and for every individual who loses his or her life in armed conflicts there are many more who suffer serious injuries.

I hope over this campaign to see the Armed Forces first hand and understand them as real people, often with difficult challenges ahead of them on returning home. I have been so encouraged by the positive attitude and enthusiasm our employees have shown already to the new partnership and feel passionate that every contribution we make as an organisation will go towards making an important difference for someone who some day may need help.”

A hot weekend in May saw 10 Logistic & Information Services employees from Samlesbury, Lancashire take part in a 137- mile weekend cycle ride over the “Sea 2 Sea challenge- C2C” route across Northern England, raising funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity as a part of BAE Systems’ Charity Challenge. Mike Wingfield, rider and the team’s charity coordinator commented “We had a fantastic weekend, the hottest of the year so far, and stunning scenery. Plus everyone pulled together to make the event a great success. And we have raised over £1,000 for The Soldiers’ Charity, thanks to the support and encouragement of everyone. We hope to repeat the event again next year.” The L&IS Team consisted of Paul Anthony, Nigel Bagster (IFS Defence), Sarah Graziani Dave Heaton, John Mears, Vicki Moretti, Helen Singleton, Harald Vonk, Tom Watson, Mike Wingfield with support from Keith Singleton. If you would like to find out more about the team’s C2C Challenge and sponsor them please visit justgiving.com/Coast2Coast-LIS-2010


THE TIGERSThe Tigers are the flagship display team for the Princess of Wale’s Royal Regiment. Formed over 20 years ago, they are firmly established as one of the top parachute display teams in the UK. Between them they have completed over 4,500 jumps, and have been hugely successful at competitions, performing at displays such as the British National Parachute and the World Parachute championships.

They have been ongoing supporters of our charity and this year ABF The Soldiers’ charity are delighted that we are their official sponsors of the 2010 skydiving season. Dropping into the arena, smoke trailing, flags flying, performing several formations in the air, a Tigers display is a spectacular sight!

They have been dedicated fundraisers, raising much needed funds and awareness for our charity at every opportunity for which we are truly grateful.

THANK YOU

Each and every one of you who supports ABF The Soldiers’ Charity deserves a heartfelt thank you. It is through your hard work and generous donations that we are able to continue to fund those most in need. In every issue of Frontline we want to highlight some of those who make a difference, and we hope you enjoy these.

KRISTIAN WILLIAMSKristian Williams ran the Virgin London Marathon this year as the final leg of a much larger challenge. When he crossed that finishing line he was also celebrating the completion of a 21-race challenge in memory of his 21-year-old friend Rifleman Jamie Gunn who was killed last year in Helmand Province. Completing the final gruelling leg in 3:52:00 minutes Kristian, who served for four years in the Royal Logistics Corps, said he was “exhausted but happy.” Thanks Kristian for all of your efforts.

SERGEANT SIMON RUSSELL

Sgt Simon Russell is the Master Chef for BATUK, (the British Army Training Unit Kenya] and an avid supporter of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and somewhat of a local celeb in the Kenyan community.This year has been a busy one for Sergeant Russell. Not only did he host a Big Curry for the guys of BATUK, their families and guests with his own prepared curries raising KSH 93000 Shillings (£780), but he has also started helping the local orphanage during his stay in Kenya and working with the Grapesyard School in the Korogocho slums.‘I would happily work with The Soldiers’ Charity team to promote anything they do’.

ABF The Soldiers' Charity Please tick if you would like to know more about:

Making a regular gift through a Bank Standing Order – they really help us plan our work Regular giving from your payroll or occupational pension

Leaving The Soldiers' Charity a gift in your Will – any amount will be very welcome – The Soldiers’ charity will not pass on your details

Setting up a Memorial Tribute Rose Fund – in memory of a departed loved one

volunteering your time for The Soldiers' Charity – you can volunteer your time to help at either our National office in London or at any of our dozens of committees all over the UK

Fundraising – tick here or download a fundraising pack from our website for more fundraising ideas

How to become a community fundraiser locally

Keeping in touch ABF The Soldiers' charity will not pass your details to other organisations but does hold and use data you have supplied for administration purposes and to keep you informed of fundraising activities and our work. If you prefer not to receive this information, please tick this box. If you prefer not to receive this newsletter please tick this box.

Don't forget to amend your name and address on the reverse if necessary. Please return this completed coupon in the envelope provided to:

Donor Development Manager ABF The Soldiers' Charity Mountbarrow House 6-20 Elizabeth Street London SW1W 9RB

Email:

Leaving a gift to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in your Will

The Soldiers’ charity faces an unprecedented demand for help from members of the Army family in dire need. Just a few years ago, we were working in a completely different military climate. None of us could have predicted the hardship that would arise in the Army community and the escalating costs of meeting that need.

As a result of a greater awareness of the charity’s care and support we have had to radically alter our analysis of the future demand for our help. The charity now finds itself contemplating an extremely uncomfortable medium term prospect: the next ten to twenty years promise to be very testing ones.

By remembering The Soldiers’ charity in your Will you will join us in our firm resolution: that no-one who calls on us for help should be turned away.

For further information please contact: 0845 241 4828.

Registered charity No: 211645 Scottish Registered charity No: Sc039189

For more information visit soldierscharity.org

CUT HERE BEFORE RETURNING THIS SLIP

DonationPlease return all completed forms to: ABF The Soldiers' Charity, Mountbarrow House, 6-20 Elizabeth Street, London. SW1W 9RB cheques should be made payable to ABF The Soldiers' charity.

Please debit my:

card number:

Last 3 digits on signature strip

Expiry date Start date Sec no

[Switch only]

Issue no Amount

visa Mastercard Maestro cAF card (donations only) Amex

[Switch only]

£

Date: Day Tel No:

Signature: Email:

Signature:

Date:

I want the charity to treat all donations I have made in the four years prior to this year, and all donations I make hereafter to be regarded as Gift Aid donations until further notice. Note that you must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that the ABF The Soldiers’ charity reclaims on your donations in the appropriate tax year.

YOURSUPPORTGIvESTHEMSUPPORTIf you would like to make a donation, please fill out this form.

Documents

FrontLine Magazine - August 2010