Wounded
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Steve748

Original Poster:

8,542 posts

205 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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Wounded Wednesday 23 September
9:00pm - 10:00pm
BBC1
As much as you might wish to banish the memories, Wounded can't be shaken off. It's an unflinching portrayal of injuries sustained in battle and the months of painful rehabilitation that follow. Sara Hardy's film pulls you in immediately as we watch a sequence filmed by one of a group of Royal Irish Regiment soldiers as they pause for a rest by a canal on a routine patrol in Afghanistan. Everything is quiet and normal. Suddenly the world skews and tilts into Dante-esque chaos. A bomb goes off and there is blood in the water. Men are screaming, "Stay still! We've got to get him out NOW!" It's clear that one of them is gravely injured. He is Ranger Andy Allen, 19. His right leg has been blown off. During the rest of the programme we follow Andy and another severely injured soldier, 24-year-old Tom Neathway, during each stage of their recovery from those first critical hours and days. Despite the brisk tenderness of the NHS and military medical personnel, it's hard to watch and we are spared no harrowing detail as the men undergo traumatic surgeries. Your heart and your stomach will need to be strong.

Radio Times reviewer - Alison Graham

Continues after the news at 10:35pm.

We have not had a lot of media coverage of the injured that return back to an uncertain future so it's about time we had some airtime showing what a tough time these soldiers are facing.

TheCaseAce

700 posts

232 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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Pretty grim watching - injuries like that are horrific anyway but to go from being a guy who really lives on fitness to a blind guy with no legs must be a serious psychological trauma.

cazzer

8,883 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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Politicians should be made to visit these guys daily.
Except I wouldn't wish it on the soldiers.

Rach*

8,824 posts

237 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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It absolutely disgusts me that our wounded are brushed aside and not talked about. This programme is long over due and too short imo. These poor kids, i hope they find peace and can enjoy the very changed life they have now

Jasandjules

71,857 posts

250 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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cazzer said:
Politicians should be made to visit these guys daily.
Except I wouldn't wish it on the soldiers.
Any politician or Civil Servant who seeks in any way to deny soldiers compensation for their injuries should be publically flogged. Then have their faces plastered up around the town they live in.

cazzer

8,883 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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Prosthetics are still a bit crap too arn't they?

anonymous-user

75 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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The triple-amputee is an absolute diamond. Makes me feel bloody guilty about moaning about work etc. Absolute star of a chap - nothing getting him down, no bitterness, I wish I could buy him a pint. Both of them, actually.

Technonotice

4,250 posts

212 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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brought a tear to my eye.frown

Slate99

2,270 posts

206 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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What an amazing programme! It annoys me so much to know that the government just does not care. All of them were so positive. No moaning no feeling sorry for themselves. They make me proud to be British.

The service people need far more credit and recognition. For us at home it's a simple case of out of sight out of mind. That triple amputee and Irish lad were really inspirational!

jeevescat

880 posts

232 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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And here was I thinking I'd had a tough day.

Take my hat off to those guys, that's determination.

RizzoTheRat

27,789 posts

213 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
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Blatant plug for a mate but this bloke is riding to Iraq raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund which helps ex-soldiers and thier families. There's a link on his website if anyone feels like sponsoring him.
http://www.trans-european-challenge.co.uk/index.ht...

Eric Mc

124,658 posts

286 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
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Great documentary and very moving.

whirligig

941 posts

216 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
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Very thought provoking and moving.

Steve H

1,170 posts

245 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
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All I can say is WOW! very humbling

Edited by Steve H on Thursday 24th September 13:16

darren9

986 posts

216 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
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So humbling, amongst all the calls from people that say that they shouldn't even be there our army just get on with the job.

What stuck in my mind was the triple amputee who said something along the lines of "I'd rather have this than have one of my mates die" the determination of both men was inspiring.

Steve748

Original Poster:

8,542 posts

205 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
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I went into our local Tesco Express and walking past the mags they were full of Katie Price hell and other vacuous so called 'celebs' having a moan about there sad lives.
I hope they were watching this programme last night and maybe they might realise how lucky they really are

splodge s4

1,519 posts

258 months

Friday 25th September 2009
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Amazing programme, I dont cry but I did have a tears in my eyes first time I watched it, second time I watched it I was with the wife so I was very brave. cry

As an ex squaddie myself the thing that shines through from both these warriors is their 'squaddie sence of humour' When the para was asked about his arm, he said he'd not even really though about it, 'yea it would be nice to have one' was his reply!

And the Irish guy 'all Marines are lazy', 'what you say' was the reply, 'I like your hair I said'...he couldnt even see!

Amazing soldiers & an inspiration to everyone. Also the nurses, doctors & surgeons who every day deal with these things & give hope, reasurance & courage to fight through. bow


drskodd

95 posts

214 months

Friday 25th September 2009
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The Armed forces should include this programme, or excerpts from it in their promotional DVD's and TV ad's.

I was really surprised they didn't seem to be too bitter about losing limbs for no good reason, but, I suppose if you join up you have to accept the risks and deal with it when it happens to you.

craste

1,227 posts

228 months

Friday 25th September 2009
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I watched this as well and was astounded by the bravery and the way they seem to just shrug it off.

Makes you feel very proud to be British, unlike the cowards who plant those IED's.

Its like what the surgeon said they are not man enough to pick up a gun and go into battle - its a cowards way to fight.

I wonder if it was translated and played back to the people who planted the device they would have a different perspective on what they are doing?

I suppose they don't know the soldier and don't give a fk about him or his family.

Eric Mc

124,658 posts

286 months

Friday 25th September 2009
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splodge s4 said:
Amazing programme, I dont cry but I did have a tears in my eyes first time I watched it, second time I watched it I was with the wife so I was very brave. cry

As an ex squaddie myself the thing that shines through from both these warriors is their 'squaddie sence of humour' When the para was asked about his arm, he said he'd not even really though about it, 'yea it would be nice to have one' was his reply!

And the Irish guy 'all Marines are lazy', 'what you say' was the reply, 'I like your hair I said'...he couldnt even see!

Amazing soldiers & an inspiration to everyone. Also the nurses, doctors & surgeons who every day deal with these things & give hope, reasurance & courage to fight through. bow
I really liked Alan Evans. No doubt, he comes from a good God fearing Belfast protestant family - but he was being tended to by a lovely Irish lass from south of the border in the Republic.