340 dead…..300 killed as a result of hostile action…..40 dead as a result of illness, accidents, non-combat injuries….
These are the number of British forces personnel or MOD civilians who have perished since commencement of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan in October 2001. In Addition, for the period January 2006 through to last month, September 2010:
These stats (for want of a better word) make hard reading. These figures are made worse by the fact that those killed thus far are so young (average age 27 years, the 300th death was reached in June 2010 with the sad demise of 23 year old Royal Marine, Paul Warren).
We’re very lucky in the UK. As civilians, we have the choice to debate and question our presence in Afghanistan. We have the ability to lambast our leaders and politicians regarding their motives for throwing our troops in behind the US lead effort in 2001…but our armed personnel don’t have this choice. It’s not in their job remit. Everyday, our boys and girls put their lives on the line, without question, to protect our way of life. Protect our freedom. Protect our right to question.
Our debt to these fine people is immeasurable and our gratitude should be without bounds.
As we hurtle towards Christmas, many families here will be without their loved ones (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters) because they are either serving our country across the many trouble spots of the world or because they have made the ultimate sacrifice. So, on 21 November 2010, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (SKLPC), Northolt, will be creating gift parcels to be sent to wounded personnel in Afghanistan, as part of National Sewa Day (NSD). The parcels will contain presents and messages from children. Hopefully, we can bring a little joy into the harsh reality of the soldiers’ daily lives and, importantly, let them know they are not forgotten.
We need as much help as we can get for this worthy cause – we need 500 volunteers at the very least.
Please contact Anand Vyas or Nrupesh Jhalla at NSD (email: info@nationalsewaday.org) or Panna Vekaria at SKLPC (email: PannaV@vascroft.com) ASAP to get involved or register for this project today via our website
Saluting all our heroes and wishing them a safe return home.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman, National Sewa Day.
These are the number of British forces personnel or MOD civilians who have perished since commencement of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan in October 2001. In Addition, for the period January 2006 through to last month, September 2010:
- 1,485 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action.
- 2,817 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals for disease or non-battle injuries.
- 218 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
- 220 UK personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
- 3,863 aeromedical evacuations have taken place for UK military and civilian personnel injured or ill in Afghanistan.
These stats (for want of a better word) make hard reading. These figures are made worse by the fact that those killed thus far are so young (average age 27 years, the 300th death was reached in June 2010 with the sad demise of 23 year old Royal Marine, Paul Warren).
We’re very lucky in the UK. As civilians, we have the choice to debate and question our presence in Afghanistan. We have the ability to lambast our leaders and politicians regarding their motives for throwing our troops in behind the US lead effort in 2001…but our armed personnel don’t have this choice. It’s not in their job remit. Everyday, our boys and girls put their lives on the line, without question, to protect our way of life. Protect our freedom. Protect our right to question.
Our debt to these fine people is immeasurable and our gratitude should be without bounds.
As we hurtle towards Christmas, many families here will be without their loved ones (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters) because they are either serving our country across the many trouble spots of the world or because they have made the ultimate sacrifice. So, on 21 November 2010, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (SKLPC), Northolt, will be creating gift parcels to be sent to wounded personnel in Afghanistan, as part of National Sewa Day (NSD). The parcels will contain presents and messages from children. Hopefully, we can bring a little joy into the harsh reality of the soldiers’ daily lives and, importantly, let them know they are not forgotten.
We need as much help as we can get for this worthy cause – we need 500 volunteers at the very least.
Please contact Anand Vyas or Nrupesh Jhalla at NSD (email: info@nationalsewaday.org) or Panna Vekaria at SKLPC (email: PannaV@vascroft.com) ASAP to get involved or register for this project today via our website
Saluting all our heroes and wishing them a safe return home.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman, National Sewa Day.
Our troops deserve our support.
ReplyDeleteI will volunteer and do my part!
Neil
Thx Neil...it's th very least we can do right?!
ReplyDelete