It's a horrible shock when one learns that what one has seen hitherto as 
a depressing series of bits and bites on news bulletins showing the 
casualties of war arriving back in dear old blighty, when one of those 
bleak statistics is a boy you know. Thankfully Jonathan is now out of 
danger, in hospital in Birmingham with facial injuries from shell 
splinters. He may have lost an eye, too.

His comrade was killed beside him yet all he wants is to get well soon 
and get back into action.

Last week, or so it seems, he was a mischievous boy playing outside our 
church after Sunday mass.

Where does England find these young men and women?

-- 
James Follett

"james"  wrote in message 
news:AXzrBWC2kg8KFwyv@marage.demon.co.uk...
>
> It's a horrible shock when one learns that what one has seen hitherto as a 
> depressing series of bits and bites on news bulletins showing the 
> casualties of war arriving back in dear old blighty, when one of those 
> bleak statistics is a boy you know. Thankfully Jonathan is now out of 
> danger, in hospital in Birmingham with facial injuries from shell 
> splinters. He may have lost an eye, too.
>
> His comrade was killed beside him yet all he wants is to get well soon and 
> get back into action.
>
> Last week, or so it seems, he was a mischievous boy playing outside our 
> church after Sunday mass.
>
> Where does England find these young men and women?


Recruiting Offices, often not sited far from the local Jobs & Benefits 
Office.


-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

> Where does England find these young men and women?
>
> -- 
> James Follett

Heaven only knows - some of them don't even look old enough to be able to 
spell the country they're going to.

Roger

In message , james 
 writes
>
>It's a horrible shock when one learns that what one has seen hitherto 
>as a depressing series of bits and bites on news bulletins showing the 
>casualties of war arriving back in dear old blighty, when one of those 
>bleak statistics is a boy you know.

Jonathan is now home. After a long flight from
Afghanistan he was taken to a depressing military hospital in 
Birmingham. Thankfully his eye is undamaged but he'll need plastic 
surgery to rebuild the side of his face. His parents have hired a nurse 
to look after him. They have nothing but praise for the medical staff 
and the amazing work of the support charities who have organised his 
care.

The worse thing was that he had to be left lying on the sand while the 
area was swept to ensure that no more mines had been covered by dust 
during the recent sand storms.

-- 
James Follett