FrontLine Spring/Summer 2020

The Magazine of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Spring / Summer 2020

UNITED ON THE FRONTLINE We stand with the British Army to support our community through the coronavirus pandemic

FRONTLINE

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CONTENTS FEATURES IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

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The changing role of the Army during times of national crisis

ON THE FRONTLINE

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Kim and Martyn Gibbons discuss their roles as key workers on the coronavirus frontline

VE DAY 75: COMMEMORATING OUR VICTORIES

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In May, we joined the nation in marking the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe

VE DAY 75: FROM VAUXHALL TO BOCHUM

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In loving memory of Les Fryatt

VE DAY 75: REMEMBERING BLETCHLEY

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The VE Day memories of ATS veteran Betty Webb MBE

REGULARS WELCOME

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From our Chief Executive, Major General (Ret’d) Martin Rutledge

OUR IMPACT

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A snapshot of our ongoing support for the Army family

HOME FRONT

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The latest news from across the charity

NATIONAL EVENTS

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Get involved with our events programme

PARTNERSHIPS AND PHILANTHROPY

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Highlights from the partnerships and philanthropy team

SUPPORT US

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Join our community of regular givers bringing support to those in need

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ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

EDITOR’S LETTER

COVER IMAGE A soldier from Royal Regiment of Scotland takes a test sample at a COVID-19 testing centre at Glasgow Airport, April 2020 (Andrew Milligan-WPA Pool/ Getty Images).

FRONTLINE ISSUE NO. 21 First published 2020. © ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

While every effort is made to check the information in FrontLine, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

EDITOR Lizzie Stephens

SPECIAL THANKS The Fryatt family National Army Museum Kim Gibbons Martyn Gibbons MBE Betty Webb MBE

DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Pete Black Ltd

ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY 12 Elizabeth Street London sw1w 9rb T: 020 7901 8900 E: info@soldierscharity.org

The image on the cover of this issue of FrontLine was taken at a COVID-19 testing centre at Glasgow Airport. Across the UK, service personnel have been taking on frontline roles in the battle against coronavirus: manning testing centres, delivering PPE and supporting the emergency services.

It is a salient reminder of the vital part played by our Armed Forces at times of national crisis.

The pandemic has brought to light stories of solidarity, compassion and enterprise. In this issue, you will read about serving and former members of the Army, alongside our beneficiaries, ambassadors, supporters, partners and staff who have come together to protect the vulnerable and support the national effort. They range from beneficiary Kim Gibbons, who is working as an intensive care nurse, to charity partner James Dean Events, which is using its equipment, staff and expertise to build virus testing centres.

In May, we marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day, when the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Despite the restrictions, we found ways to honour the World War Two generation, including two podcast episodes and a special partnership with five of the care homes we support.

These are days of pain and uncertainty for many. Our Chief Executive will share with you our charity’s response, and some of the steps we are taking to ensure that soldiers, veterans and their families can continue to rely on us.

As ever, we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters and their care for the Army community we serve.

I really hope you enjoy the issue.

Lizzie Stephens Editor

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FRONTLINE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S WELCOME Going forward, like many charities, of course we face challenges.

Our fundraising has suffered significantly, particularly given the postponement or cancellation of many events, and we certainly foresee more cases of need as the true impact of the pandemic becomes more apparent.

Most of the major service charities are clear that the real impact will be felt next year.

I am delighted to write the foreword to this edition of FrontLine, especially in these rather unusual and difficult circumstances. I think it gives a really good sense of what our community is doing and the part our charity is playing in the response.

The first and most important point I should make is that you should be completely reassured that, despite the current challenges, we largely continue to operate as normal.

Since Easter, we have disbursed approaching half a million pounds to individuals in need through the Regimental and Corps charities – over 800 soldiers, veterans and their families will have received vital help in a timely manner.

Thankfully, relatively few of these cases are directly COVID-related – just 25, actually – but we stand ready to help all those in need irrespective of the cause.

In parallel, over the last month we have made grants in excess of £1.3 million to 18 other charities and organisations that deliver vital support to the Army family on our behalf. None of this funding can continue without your support and we are hugely heartened by all the help and encouragement we have received.

I am also delighted that, where possible, our own staff are on the ground volunteering to help their local communities.

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We have well-articulated plans to return to ‘normal’ work when the time is appropriate and equally make sure we are ready for next year’s challenges. We are also very conscious that the more we can do to help the Army’s people, the more they are available to help in this national emergency.

Finally, I should make plain that the future not only holds serious risks for military charities but also some important opportunities. In many ways our sector is an exemplar amongst charities in terms of the extent of our mutual collaboration and coordination – who else has a pancharity intranet to handle collective casework? But we have to evolve into a more efficient and less fragmented sector – and we intend to be at the forefront of that effort along with our close colleagues and Cobseo.

With my very best wishes,

Major General (Ret’d) Martin Rutledge Chief Executive ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

Over the last month we have made grants in excess of £1.3 million to 18 other charities and organisations that deliver vital support to the Army family on our behalf.

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OUR IMPACT

In the past financial year, we have

AS THE ARMY’S NATIONAL CHARITY, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO SOLDIERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN NEED.

supported

70,000 members of the Army family

funded

This is more relevant than ever as we adapt to meet the demands of the coronavirus pandemic. We remain in regular contact with our partners to coordinate and share key information; identify and put into effect new ways of working; and look at how we can best contribute to the good of the nation during these difficult times.

Individual grants, which will always be our priority, are still being processed as normal and we are working to ensure that those with immediate needs and in crisis can be supported. We are forever grateful for the support of SSAFA and The Royal British Legion as our key caseworking organisations.

We are also continuing to make substantial grants to other charities and organisations to adapt their service provision in line with government restrictions. In late March, we awarded £250,000 to Combat Stress, and in April we awarded £450,000 to the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) as part of our partnership to deliver welfare support in hospitals.

Looking forward, our charity will continue to work closely with other organisations to limit the impact of coronavirus on soldiers, past and present, and their families. Our entire emphasis remains ensuring that the Army family is supported in the best way it can be.

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other charities and organisations

reached people in

62

countries across the globe

given

4,534 grants to individuals and families

awarded

22%

of our grants to the serving Army

HIGHLIGHTS

In March, we awarded £250,000 to Combat Stress to adapt its mental health provision in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As a charity, we judge it is of paramount importance that we actively support Army veterans who are battling mental ill-health at this challenging time. Combat Stress consistently responds to the evolving needs of veterans living with complex mental health conditions. Our grant will enable the charity to support the community through a range of services including its 24-hour helpline and video call therapy.

A team of specially-trained professionals is available day and night to provide free confidential advice and support to veterans.

DMWS Welfare Officers are continuing to support soldiers, veterans and their families over the phone.

In April, we awarded a further grant of £450,000 to the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) as an extension to our partnership which delivers a bespoke welfare service for the Armed Forces community in hospitals across Southern England. Throughout the pandemic, the DMWS has continued to obtain and respond to referrals from the military community; evolving its services in line with government guidelines.

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FRONTLINE

Last December, Kingsman Kian Helm became the fastest teenager to row the Atlantic Ocean as part of a team. Read more about Force Atlantic on page 9.

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Š Charlotte Graham Photography

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

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FRONTLINE

HOME FRONT THE LATEST NEWS FROM ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

CHARITY VANS DELIVER FOOD AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES Our regional staff have been finding creative uses for their charity vans during the government lockdown.

Some vans, usually used to transport staff and equipment to events, have been re-deployed to deliver supplies to vulnerable people and caregivers.

In the East Midlands, Phil Childs has been supporting The Helpful Bureau to deliver delicious hot meals to elderly and vulnerable people self-isolating at home. In the North East, Jim Duffy has been delivering volunteer-made Personalised Protective Equipment (PPE) scrubs to hospitals, care homes and doctors’ surgeries.

MARK HARDING ROWS 3,000 MILES IN HIS BACK GARDEN Our ambassador Mark Harding has taken on a new mission for our charity and the NHS. He is using the lockdown to virtually row the Atlantic from Wigton in Cumbria to Cape Cod in Massachusetts – a distance of 3,000 miles – on a Kayakpro Dragonboat machine.

Mark served with 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment for 16 years, including operational tours of Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2010, he was leading a four-man patrol in the

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Nadi-Ali district of Afghanistan when he came under insurgent fire and was shot by a Taliban sniper. The bullet passed through his neck and left him paralysed from the neck down.

Mark was determined to walk again. Following years of intensive treatment and physiotherapy, he has regained some of the use of his legs. Our charity was proud to support Mark with a series of grants to aid his recovery, and he has since become a passionate ambassador and fundraiser.

He is proud to be rowing in support of our charity and the NHS, 10 years after his life-changing injury.

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Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and has completed tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck, Nathaniel and his family were evacuated to The Services Cotswold Centre in Corsham. The centre is one of a number that we have provided substantial funding to as part of our important efforts to support serving families.

CORPORATE PARTNER JOINS ARMY TO BUILD VIRUS TESTING AND ASSESSMENT SITES Our partner, James Dean Events, has been working alongside Army planners to build mass testing and assessment centres across the UK. The first testing site in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, was established as a drive-through medical assessment centre for people with COVID-19 symptoms.

The team has since supported the construction of further centres, including a site in Chesterfield to test NHS frontline staff.

James Dean Events is a longstanding supporter of our East Midlands office, tirelessly raising funds for the Army family at its music festivals and helping to produce our 2019 Soldiers Festival.

When the NHS and Army asked us to help them set up COVID-19 testing sites, we jumped at the chance. The money the NHS has saved from hiring our equipment has gone towards buying PPE for doctors, nurses and carers in the Midlands.

There can be no better feeling in life than knowing you are contributing to saving lives.

James Dean

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to

OXFORD SCHOOLBOY RAISES £750 FOR SOLDIERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES We recently received a letter from Nathaniel Blakesley, a Year 7 pupil at The Dragon School in Oxford.

Nathaniel secured a donation of £750 for our charity following a successful bid to trustees, governors and representatives at his school.

The donation will be paid from the proceeds of The Dragon School Sale.

Nathaniel for his fantastic efforts in raising £750 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

The money will go towards supporting the wellbeing of the British Army family when they need it most.

Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

Our charity is close to Nathaniel’s heart as his father, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Blakesley, serves in the

NORTH EAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR DEPLOYED AS ARMED FORCES CALLS UP 3,000 RESERVISTS The coronavirus pandemic has seen the Ministry of Defence mobilise 3,000 reservists to support the government’s response. Reservists have formed part of the Covid Support Force, alongside 20,000 regular service personnel. They are being used in a range of roles, from deploying specialist skills in accounting and engineering to providing medical and logistical support for the NHS. With them is our North East Regional Director, Barney Barnbrook. Barney is an ex-regular, now serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. He has been working in support of one of the local emergency planning units, helping to coordinate the supply of PPE and the deployment of mobile testing units.

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FRONTLINE

HOME FRONT

AMBASSADOR RACHEL WEBSTER RUNS TEN MARATHONS IN TEN DAYS In honour of VE Day, our ambassador Rachel Webster took on a multiple marathon challenge to raise over £5,500 for our charity.

HEREFORD CAROL CONCERT SURPASSES FIGURE OF £44,000 RAISED FOR THE ARMY FAMILY Every year, members of our Hereford committee organise a spectacular carol concert at Hereford Cathedral, featuring four choirs, soloists, a youth orchestra and an inspiring guest speaker. The event celebrates the Christmas period while reflecting on the service of our nation’s Armed Forces, past and present.

Last December, the concert surpassed the figure of £44,000 raised over the lifetime of the event for soldiers, veterans and their families. A congregation of 1,000 filled the 800-year-old cathedral for an evening of music and celebration led by the Dean, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor. There were performances from the Marches Military Wives Choir, Hereford Police Male Choir, Hereford Concert Youth Band, Hereford Fanfare Trumpets, Stretton Sugwas Academy and Weobley High School Choir.

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For the members of the committee, our annual concert is hugely important, fulfilling and enjoyable. I would like to pay tribute to all those who make it possible through their hard work, talent, inspiration and commitment to our charity.

To our musicians, musical directors, guest speaker and the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral, we thank you.

Mike Rowlatt, Chairman of the Hereford Committee

Rachel had been training to run the London Marathon in April, but her plans were put on hold by the government lockdown. Inspired by the fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore, the Army veteran who raised over £32m for the NHS, Rachel decided to put her training to use and run a marathon a day to honour the World War Two generation and raise vital funds for soldiers, veterans and their families.

Rachel served in the British Army for 24 years, rising to the rank of Captain and completing four operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She received a Commander’s Commendation for her work with rape victims in Kosovo. She has been an ambassador and fundraiser for our charity for a number of years.

Rachel says: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on fundraising, and I wanted to to do something to show my continued support. Like many others, I had run many miles in preparation for the London Marathon and I didn’t want that training to go to waste.

Captain Tom showed me anything is possible.”

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ARMY TEAM ROWS THE ATLANTIC FOR SOLDIERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES Last December, the Force Atlantic team set off on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. After over a month at sea, they ended their 3,000 mile odyssey in Antigua.

Dubbed ‘the world’s toughest row’, the challenge is the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance. More people have climbed Mount Everest than rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.

RESERVIST RAISES ALMOST 3,000 WHILE ON OPERATION OVERSEAS

Hailing from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, the team was comprised of Lieutenant Colonel Rich

Hall MBE, Captain Chris Hames, Captain Alex Walsh and Kingsman Kian Helm. Kian, 18, had only just completed basic training before taking part in the race. Now he can claim to be the fastest teenager to ever row the Atlantic as part of a team.

The four men rowed in shifts through the day and night in a self-supporting 9 x 2 metre boat. Along the way, they survived a shark encounter, strong winds and powerful waves – the largest of which struck their boat in the pitch black, resulting in a broken oar and some lost kit.

The Force Atlantic team took on this challenge to raise vital funds for our charity and to showcase the transformative impact AFC Harrogate can have on its young recruits.

Lance Corporal Cindy Gavin, a reservist with 154 Scottish Transport Regiment RLC based in Dunfermline, has raised almost €3,000 for our charity while on a six-month United Nations tour in Cyprus.

During her time on the island, she organised numerous events and initiatives to raise vital funds for soldiers, veterans and their families.

After some post-tour leave, she will be joining up as a regular Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) soldier with 11 Armoured Medical Regiment based in Tidworth.

I’m hoping to hand over the gauntlet to the next tour coming in and hopefully they will continue to raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity – a wonderful organisation.

Lance Corporal Cindy Gavin

© Charlotte Graham Photography

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HELP THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH. By leaving a gift in your Will you can give back to soldiers, veterans and their families for life.

T: 0207 901 8912 E: legacies@soldierscharity.org W: soldierscharity.org/legacies ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (039189). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609). Registered Office: Mountbarrow House, 12 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB

Photo © Malcolm Cochrane

Find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

HOW THE BRITISH ARMY IS SUPPORTING THE NHS AND KEY WORKERS ACROSS THE UK Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards have been assisting the NHS by transporting essential medical equipment across the UK. This support is working to bolster the NHS supply chain allowing vital equipment to get to where it is most needed.

British Army soldiers were drafted in to assist with the distribution of PPE (personal protective equipment) to NHS hospitals across the UK.

The Army has been involved in the conversion of Glasgow’s SEC Centre into a temporary NHS Scotland hospital.

75 combat medical technicians are embedded at the NHS site in Harrogate as skilled clinical support workers.

The Harrogate facility was formally opened by fundraising veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Some of our staff have been volunteering their time, in addition to usual duties, to help distribute food, medicines and PPE to NHS facilities and those who are shielding or alone with no family support.

The NEC in Birmingham was converted into a NHS Nightingale hospital by a team comprising NHS workers, soldiers and private contractors, working together to build bed spaces and intensive care facilities within the exhibition centre.

Military personnel helped to build a field hospital at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Dragon Heart Hospital will provide up to 2,000 additional beds for COVID-19 patients. It was opened by the Prince of Wales.

Army engineers and medics worked with NHS staff to help turn the ExCel Centre, London, into an emergency hospital to treat coronavirus patients. The NHS Nightingale hospital has a capacity of 4,000 beds and was constructed in just 9 days.

40 Scots Guards soldiers have been deployed to help provide 200 extra beds for coronavirus patients on the Isle of Wight, at St Mary’s Hospital.

FRONTLINE

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: THE ARMY AND CIVIL ASSISTANCE In this article, the National Army Museum examines the changing role of the British Army in providing support for civil authority – from supporting national events and helping to resolve crises, to protecting against civil threats.

Today, we trust the Army and its soldiers to help maintain vital supplies and services.

We welcome them when normal civilian resources are exhausted or have broken down. And, as the 2020 coronavirus outbreak shows, we rely on them in times of national emergency.

On 19th March 2020, the Ministry of Defence announced the formation of the Covid Support Force. This was one of the measures put in place to co-ordinate Armed Forces assistance in tackling the pandemic. As part of Operation Rescript, around 20,000 military personnel were mobilised to help support public services in the UK. On 23rd March 2020, 150 members of the Armed Forces began training at Air Products facilities in Port Talbot and Carrington to help maintain supplies of oxygen to NHS facilities. They were taught to fill oxygen tankers as well as how to drive them safely and deposit oxygen at NHS facilities.

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Crown Copyright

Another 700 military personnel were committed to support NHS staff at the large-scale temporary hospital at the ExCel Centre in London (NHS Nightingale), primarily to help with construction and provide logistical support.

Under the remit of Operation Broadshare, the military also assisted with repatriation flights of British citizens from China and Japan, providing medically trained personnel and a military runway for aircraft landings.

The National Army Museum is closed due to coronavirus, but its website offers access to its collections and other resources.

Visit www.nam.ac.uk to find out more.

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▼ NATURAL DISASTERS In 2014 and 2015, soldiers assisted the Environment Agency in dealing with severe flooding in Hampshire and Cumbria, and have provided similar support since.

© National Army Museum

▲ 2012 OLYMPICS In 2012, the British Army drafted in over 18,000 soldiers to support the London Olympic Games when security company G4S admitted they could not provide enough guards.

At the time, this was the largest peacetime domestic operation ever performed by the Armed Forces.

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TERRORISM After the terrorist incident at Westminster on 22nd March 2017, police immediately assured the nation that they could call upon the Army to provide support if required.

Following the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017, the police asked the Secretary of State for Defence to implement Operation Temperer and deploy soldiers to support its officers in protecting the public.

Working under police command, military personnel guarded key public locations, such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, in order to free up armed officers for patrol duties.

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FRONTLINE

MAINTAINING CIVIL ORDER We see the Army’s assistance as serving society in a positive way.

But this has not always been the case. There is a long history of soldiers being used to put down civil unrest or subdue public disorder on home soil. This has sometimes been controversial, especially when soldiers have turned their weapons on civilians.

Before the late 1820s, Britain had no organised police force.

Troops were routinely used against smugglers and other criminals, but also against protesting and rioting civilians, sometimes with fatal results.

The late 18th and 19th centuries witnessed major social and political unrest. The Industrial Revolution caused economic distress as older trades declined and traditional social ties were eroded. Thousands of people flocked to new towns and demanded political and economic reform. In the countryside, mechanisation and enclosure led to unemployment and unrest.

Soldiers often found themselves in the unenviable position of having to deal with this discontent.

© National Army Museum

▲ THE BRISTOL RIOTS, 1831 The Bristol Riots of October 1831 took place after the House of Lords rejected the Second Reform Bill, which would have extended the franchise.

Thousands of the city’s inhabitants rioted - the large crowd burned down the houses of the rich and powerful, including the Bishop’s Palace, the Custom House and the Mansion House. The mob also released prisoners from jail.

When the cavalry was called in, their commander, Lieutenant Colonel

Thomas Brereton, initially refused the order to open fire on civilians.

Eventually, his force charged the crowd. Several people were killed and hundreds more wounded over three days of unrest. Over 90 protesters were sent to prison and four were hanged.

Brereton was court-martialled for negligence, taking his own life before he could be sentenced. The Mayor of Bristol and nine aldermen were prosecuted for breaching their common law ‘duty’ to assemble a force of soldiers to put down the revolt.

LEGACY The public backlash to such events means that, outside of Northern Ireland, the Army has not been used to maintain civil order in the United Kingdom since 1926. Even in Northern Ireland during The Troubles (1969-2007), the Army carefully prepared and trained for the social and legal context needed to maintain order, but still struggled to navigate the situation without controversy.

Officials now recognise that although the Army is trained in the use of force, it should only be used to control its fellow citizens as a very last resort.

Instead, today’s priority during times of national crisis is to use the Army to help people in trouble – a role welcomed by society.

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ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

ON THE FRONTLINE: KIM AND MARTYN GIBBONS Our charity supported Kim to retrain as a nurse after her husband Martyn was operationally injured in Afghanistan. She is now working as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, caring for patients with COVID-19 COVID19..

Kim, dressed in full PPE after a hospital shift.

“I trained as a theatre nurse.” Kim says.

“My usual job involves caring for patients with cancers of the prostate, bladder and skin. But when COVID-19 hit, I was redeployed to the ICU almost overnight. We are the frontline, suited and booted, gowned and masked, helping patients on ventilators and blood filtration machines. It’s very challenging.”

Kim has been a nurse for four years. She left her previous job when her husband Martyn sustained life-changing injuries during his final tour of Afghanistan. Martyn served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers for 17 years, including tours of Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. In 2009, Martyn was struck by a 82mm mortar fired by a recoilless rifle when his unit came under attack in Sangin. Despite sustaining serious injuries to both legs, he refused to leave his troops until he had briefed his second-in-command. He was subsequently awarded an MBE for his gallant and distinguished service.

Kim says: “We’ve had so much generosity from the public. Only today, I received some home-made scrub bags which means I can put my uniform straight into the machine without handling it. It’s something so simple but it’s incredibly appreciated.”

While Martyn was recovering at home, specialists trained Kim to administer his medication. One of the doctors from the local surgery recognised her abilities and encouraged her to become a nurse.

Our charity supported Kim with an Access to Higher Education course, enabling her to study nursing at the University of Central Lancashire. She is now a qualified Staff Nurse for East Lancashire Trust. She was working as a theatre nurse when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Kim laughs: “So, I suppose if you think about it, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity got me into this!”

Martyn is a key worker at a local high school.

Martyn says: It’s scary when people’s lives are in danger. That is the same with the military on the frontline. It’s frightening, and anyone who says otherwise is lying.”

Martyn himself is also a key worker. As a Head of Year at a local high school, he is responsible for supporting staff and students who are home-schooling. He says: “Although I’m a designated key worker, for me the really vital workers are the people working for the NHS like Kim. They’re the ones who are really doing their bit.”

Kim has nothing but admiration for the regular ICU nurses she supports, who work in incredibly challenging circumstances with the most severe cases of COVID-19.

The work is fast-paced and fluid. One day, Kim might be in the theatres helping with caesarean sections and delivering babies of mothers who are suspected of having the virus; the next, she is ‘scrubbing up’ for emergency operations for patients who are in a critical condition. The camaraderie she shares with the other nurses is vital. Kim says: “I imagine it’s similar to the Army. You know that you’re in this together, and you support one another because you care about the patients.”

On behalf of the charity, I would like to say how incredibly grateful we are to Kim and all of her NHS colleagues for the work they are doing to support COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the UK. Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

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VE DAY 75 2020 marks 75 years since the end of World War Two in Europe. In this image, crowds gather in London’s Piccadilly Circus to celebrate the first Victory in Europe Day, 8th May 1945.

FRONTLINE

VE DAY 75: COMMEMORATING OUR VICTORIES On 8th May 1945, Winston Churchill broke the news of Germany’s unconditional surrender, bringing an end to the war in Europe after six years of brutal conflict. This year, the nation came together to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe. We organised a series of VE Day 75 initiatives to honour the service and sacrifice of the World War Two generation.

HELPING VETERANS IN CARE HOMES CELEBRATE VE DAY Many care homes were forced to put their VE Day celebrations on hold due to coronavirus. To boost morale and bring a smile to residents’ faces, we worked with five leading veteran care providers: Royal British Legion Industries in Kent; Broughton House in Salford; Erskine in Scotland; the Royal Star and Garter in the South East and West Midlands; and the Royal Cambridge Home in Surrey to bring VE Day street parties into the homes.

On 8th May, residents enjoyed music, singing and other reminiscence activities, including a two-minute silence to remember those who fought during World War Two. Staff ensured that even those self-isolating in their rooms had the party brought to them with bunting, room decorations and VE Daythemed tea and cake.

VOICES OF VE DAY PODCAST

We distilled over 1,000 years of experience to capture what VE Day was really like for those who lived through it. The special podcast episode features a rich tapestry of memories from guests including Dame Patricia Routledge, Sir Derek Jacobi, Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell and historian Christopher Lee. Also featured are Captain Jack Swabb MC of the Royal Artillery, 102; Geoffrey Winter of the York and Lancaster Regiment, 98; Barbara Weatherill of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, 94; Bletchley Park veteran Betty Webb, 96; Chelsea Pensioner Bob Sullivan, 96 and Allan Jackson of the Coldstream Guards, 95.

A second episode, ‘The Medals on Grandad’s Chest,’ features Antique’s Roadshow’s Arms and Militaria expert, Mark Smith, discussing the medals of Word War Two. Mark says: “The guys and girls that you see wearing medals over VE Day went through some rough times.

The more you understand about the medals the more you can see how rough those times may have been. Their story is on their chest because their medals will tell you where they were.”

To listen to the episodes, search ‘Voices of VE Day’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Audioboom. Alternatively, visit

www.soldierscharity.org/ve-day-2020

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ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

CELEBRITIES AND AMBASSADORS PERFORM ‘INVICTUS’ INVICTUS Written in 1872, William Ernest Henley’s famous poem ‘Invictus’ offers a timeless perspective on courage, resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity. It feels especially pertinent at the present time, as we reflect on the legacy of the victory in Europe while facing sacrifices and privations of our own.

In a fitting tribute to VE Day, we were delighted that celebrity friends of our charity including Joanna Lumley, Ray Winstone, Jenny Agutter, Martin Clunes, Johnny Vegas and Luke Pasqualino joined some of our inspiring beneficiaries and ambassadors in a powerful video recital of the poem.

INVICTUS

By W I L L I A M E R N E S T H E N L E Y

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

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FRONTLINE

VE DAY 75: FROM VAUXHALL TO BOCHAM On 8th May 1945, Les Fryatt’s regiment halted its advance on Berlin to hear Prime Minister Winston Churchill break the news of Germany’s unconditional surrender.

Les Fryatt was born one of 16 children in Vauxhall, London, in 1924. The family home was near the South Lambeth Road, close to where his forbearers sold fruit and vegetables from a barrow. His grandfather kept horses and used the clippers to trim the children’s hair. “You could always tell the Fryatts,” Les says. “Because we all had blonde hair.”

War was declared in 1939. In 1942, shortly after his 18th birthday, Les was conscripted into the Army with his two friends, Dennis Coleman and Freddie Ellis. The trio had been in the same class at school and did everything together. “It was funny really.

I was a bit bored at the time, so when I got my papers I was quite pleased. I felt for my mum though – out of 16 children, eight of us boys joined the Army, my sisters

Above. Les (back right), pictured with his regiment.

Right. Les (back row, third from left), pictured with members of his family.

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volunteered for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs) and the three youngest were evacuated, so it was very hard on her.”

Les bade farewell to his two best friends and reported for duty in Naughton Barracks in Worcestershire before being selected for gunnery training. From there, he joined the Royal Artillery in St Albans. While the regiment was based in Scunthorpe, Les joined some friends at a viewing of an American film. “There were paratroopers sitting in front of us, wearing these berets.

And me being smaller, I couldn’t see anything, so they moved along and took off their berets.” One of the men turned around and Les found himself face-to-face with his childhood friend, Dennis Coleman. “That was the last time I ever saw him,” Les says.

“Him or Freddie Ellis.”

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

Shortly afterwards, the regiment began preparations for D-Day. “We weren’t really told anything; we just started doing intensive training, waterproofing the vehicles and going out to sea.

When we left, we were on the troop lorries and people were shouting: ‘Give them hell, lads’ – and we thought ‘something must really be happening.’”

On D-Day, Les departed the London docks aboard the MV Empire General, landing near Caen on D-Day +1.

As they approached land, Les and his comrades shinnied down a rope ladder laid against the side of the ship onto the landing craft, weighted down with packs, pouches, ammunition and rifles. As Les stepped off the ladder, the landing craft shifted suddenly in the current and he was left with one foot dangling above the water. He recalls his friends shouting: “Jump, Fryatt. Jump!” A wave brought the craft back towards the ladder and Les was able to scramble aboard. He remembers: “The chaps were laughing – couldn’t stop laughing!”

In Normandy, enough ground had been gained to bring the guns ashore.

As part of a five-man gun detachment, Les operated 5.5 Howitzer guns supporting the infantry down on the beaches. He witnessed the destruction of Caen and later played a crucial role destroying German positions inland.

He was subsequently appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur for the part he played in the liberation of France.

Les was part of the advance in Europe, spending time in Belgium and Holland before crossing the Rhine. He was in Germany for VE Day, and recalls listening to Winston Churchill’s broadcast over a tannoy. “There were speakers on the guns, and that’s where we heard the special announcement that the Germans had surrendered.

Oh Lord, I was choked. But I felt confused about what was going to happen. And we didn’t get a drink to celebrate or anything like that!”

Les narrowly avoided redeployment to Japan and remained in Germany for two years as part of Britain’s occupation force. His regiment moved to the town of Bochum in Germany’s Ruhr valley and then to the Harz

Mountains, where they worked felling trees for export back to Britain. In 1946, Les was witness to the MonopolGrimberg mining disaster, when fire and underground explosions trapped 550 people. British troops rushed to assist German rescue squads, who worked all through the night to bring survivors to the surface. 417 men lost their lives in what remains Germany’s worst mining disaster.

Les was finally demobbed in 1947 and returned home to find a dramatically altered London. He recalls: “I didn’t know how to survive. It was difficult because you couldn’t go back to the old way of life. All my mates had disappeared. There was no Dennis Coleman or Freddie Ellis.”

Les struggled to find permanent employment, and for a while life was very tough. “Things slowly became more stable, but building a future was a real concern. You had to stand on your own two feet.” Les finally found work with British Telecom and joined the Territorial Army, where he served for 16 years. He married his wife Jeanette shortly after the war and had two children.

It is with great sadness that we must report that Les passed away shortly after sharing his memories of VE Day. This article is dedicated to Les (1924-2020) and his wife Jeanette (1934-2019), treasured friends of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

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FRONTLINE

VE DAY 75: REMEMBERING BLETCHLEY

Official Secrets Act, you know you’ve got to be very disciplined with yourself.

We were not allowed to say anything about what we read or heard outside the individual offices, and that was throughout Bletchley.

In 1941, Betty Webb left a domestic science course to volunteer for the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). Her journey would take her to Bletchley Park, the nerve centre of Allied code-breaking during the war, and afterwards to the Pentagon in Washington DC.

WERE YOU CONSCIOUS OF THE VITAL ROLE YOU WERE PLAYING AT THAT TIME? No, not at that time. It was only after the veil of secrecy was lifted and lots of books were written.

WHERE WERE YOU ON VE DAY ITSELF?

WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE ARMY? I joined the ATS in 1941. I think it was September. I did my basic training with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Wrexham.

Because I was bilingual, they sent me to London for an interview with an Intelligence Corps officer and he decided I was suitable to go to Bletchley.

COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME AT BLETCHLEY AND WHAT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN DURING THE WAR? To begin with, it was clerical jobs because I was only 18 and I hadn’t had much experience in life. My first job was to register all the enemy messages which came in across Britain and the world.

DID YOU FIND IT A GREAT PRESSURE NOT TO DIVULGE WHAT YOU WERE DOING BY DAY TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HOME? No. It wasn’t a pressure. It was something I had to do. Once you’ve signed the 22

I went up to London to join in with many thousands of other people down by the Thames, all being jolly and singing and shouting and drinking and so on. I don’t remember any particular incident except there were so many people that I really didn’t have to consciously walk. I was just carried along with the mob.

AND BECAUSE YOUR FOCUS WAS ON JAPAN, DID THAT DAMPEN THE SENSE THAT THE WAR WAS OVER IN EUROPE? No, not really. We were all absolutely delighted that the war in Europe was over. Though I was having to concentrate on the fact that I was being posted to the Pentagon in Washington, which was very exciting. I’d never done anything like that in all my life.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE POSTED TO THE UNITED STATES? In 1944, I was in the Japanese section and my job was to paraphrase decoded and translated Japanese messages for transmission to the commanders in the

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

field in Burma. It was decided that I was rather good at this transcribing business.

After VE Day, I was sent to Washington to support the American effort in the Pacific.

DID THE UNITED STATES SEEM A DIFFERENT WORLD TO BRITAIN? Oh, absolutely. They had a little food rationing, but it was nothing like ours.

When I went over in June, you could get most things to eat in restaurants, but not meat. Then, after the Japanese surrender in August, the restaurants produced meat which they’d obviously been saving up for the day.

WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE? We didn’t have anything to do except celebrate, and that was another interesting time. The Americans went completely crazy and came out and climbed the railings of the White House and it seemed that almost every car in Washington fixed its horn for 24 hours so the cacophony was quite something.

AFTER THE WAR, YOU LEFT THE ARMY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RE-JOINED THE WOMEN’S ROYAL ARMY CORPS? Yes. I did. I had a couple of jobs first and then I went back into the Territorial Army. One of my ATS friends from Bletchley was married to a Colonel in the Cheshire Regiment. He encouraged me to go down to the drill hall and see if I could do anything, and eventually I became the Adjutant of the 321 (Cheshire) Battalion.

AFTER THE WAR, WAS EVERYTHING SLIGHTLY BORING BY COMPARISON? It was different, of course. I wouldn’t have said it was boring but it was totally different. We had to get used to the fact that we were free to go everywhere and food was becoming more plentiful and so it was a very different world. I think I missed the camaraderie of Bletchley very much.

IN 2015, YOU WERE AWARDED AN MBE FOR YOUR WORK FOR BLETCHLEY? Yes, it was a tremendous privilege. It was for remembering and promoting the work of Bletchley, which I still do. I can’t tell you how many talks I’ve given. Coming up to a couple of hundred by now.

LOOKING BACK AT THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 75 YEARS ON, WHAT DOES VE DAY MEAN TO YOU? I feel it’s very important that it is recognised because of the sacrifices that our troops made, and not only our troops but all the people in the country, the munitions workers and those in the food industry and everybody else. It is something that history must never forget.

Opposite: Bletchley Park House. © Crown Copyright 1947.

Betty arrived at Bletchley Park in 1941, aged 18. Image used with kind permission of Bletchley Park.

Above: 76.3% of the staff at Bletchley Park were women. Bottom: Hut 7 when it was first built in May 1940, housed Bletchley Park’s early card index system and its Hollerith punch card machines. The machines were used at Bletchley Park to create an ‘index’ recording vital information regarding Axis messages and was used as a reference for Bletchley Park’s cryptographers. Images used with kind permission of GCHQ.

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FRONTLINE

NATIONAL EVENTS THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON OUR EVENTS PROGRAMME The coronavirus pandemic has obviously had a huge impact on our 2020 programme. Cancelling events that have taken a decade to build up has been heart-breaking for us all – from eager participants and generous sponsors, to dedicated volunteers and hardworking staff members – but was absolutely necessary in the circumstances to keep everyone safe.

The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch, Rifle Run and the Cateran Yomp were projected to bring in over £1m for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, but we will be back as soon as we can.

We have been bowled over by the generosity of supporters during this time. Every donation has meant so much and with Operation

Bletchley now breaking all records for participation and fundraising, we wanted to say thank you.

We can’t wait to see you with a medal around your neck at an ABF The Soldiers’ Charity event finish line as soon as we are able to.

ANNINGTON BECOMES HEADLINE SPONSOR FOR THE FRONTLINE WALK

Last year, five staff from Annington raised an incredible £43,000 for our charity when they took on The Frontline Walk. This year, Annington has agreed to become the headline sponsor of the event.

Annington’s Claire Robson chose to tackle the Western Front route alongside CEO James Hopkins. But training for all of the Annington team started way back in early summer – with a walk around Hyde Park.

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Soon the date – nicknamed ‘Walking Wednesdays’ – became a regular fixture in the office diary and the team spent the summer putting in some serious miles. Claire says: “Nothing can prepare you for walking 100km, except walking 100km. As a team of walking novices, we did lots of training together; getting used to carrying backpacks and generally getting fit. We strode weekly around the London Parks in our lunch-hour and took ourselves off for longer treks whenever possible. Stratford to Paddington Basin canal walk at 20km; 24km of the Jurassic Coast; 28km of the Thames Estuary Path. I was averaging 65km each week over the summer.”

“The days before the walk were a mixture of nerves and anticipation

and on Day One as the sun rose over the Lochnagar Crater, we set off in the drizzle. I suffered badly with blisters but I kept walking and kept smiling – the camaraderie and support of fellow walkers, the sights, the history, the wine in the evening – all got me through it. Whenever it got tough, I reminded myself of how much money we were raising. When it got really tough, I thought of all those who never made it home – the pristine white headstones along the route providing a poignant reminder that put a few blisters into perspective.”

“As a team, we trained, we learned, we encouraged one another along, we bonded, we laughed, we cried and most importantly, we completed. It was a team effort but a very personal accomplishment.”

THIS JULY, JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL CODEBREAKING CHALLENGE LIKE NO OTHER. 2020 SEES THE RETURN OF OPERATION BLETCHLEY. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE HISTORY OF THE 1940S, MEET WITH SECRET AGENTS AND GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF HISTORY’S GREATEST CRYPTANALYSTS TO DECIPHER CODED MESSAGES. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FINISH THE JOB BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT? WITH TWO MISSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM AND THREE LEVELS OF CODE AVAILABLE (JUNIOR, CODEBREAKER AND CYPHER EXPERT), THERE IS SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES – FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN ALL THE WAY TO GCHQ CRYPT0ANALYSTS! IT CAN BE COMPLETED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, ALONE OR WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.*

LONDON MISSION - 50 MILES | 10 CODES | 1 MONTH

PARIS MISSION - 100 MILES | 10 CODES | 1 MONTH

IT’S 1941 AND THE UNITED KINGDOM IS IN TERRIBLE DANGER. LUFTWAFFE BOMBS ARE RAINING DOWN ON TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE GUARDS THE SKIES AND THE NAVY PROTECTS THE SEAS, BUT THE THREAT OF INVASION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. YOU MUST HELP US SECURE A NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION FROM BLETCHLEY PARK TO THE CABINET WAR ROOMS IN LONDON... CAN YOU SOLVE THE CODES AND DELIVER THE MESSAGE TO WINSTON CHURCHILL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?

IT’S 1942 AND THE SITUATION IN FRANCE IS AT BOILING POINT. THE NAZI OCCUPATION HAS CUT US OFF FROM OUR AGENTS ON THE GROUND, SO WE NEED YOU TO GO BEHIND ENEMY LINES TO MAKE CONTACT. WE CANNOT AFFORD FOR OUR INTELLIGENCE TO BE COMPROMISED, SO YOU MUST MOVE THROUGH THE SHADOWS AND CRACK CODES ALONG THE WAY TO AVOID DETECTION. THIS MISSION IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. YOUR SUCCESS IS CRITICAL. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

1-31ST JULY 2020

|

£10 REGISTRATION FEE

WHICH MISSION DO YOU CHOOSE? ARMY PERSONNEL ARE AMONGST THE MANY KEY AND FRONTLINE WORKERS BATTLING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. OPERATION BLETCHLEY IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND ENSURE THAT WE CAN BE HERE FOR THEIR TOMORROW. VISIT WWW.SOLDIERSCHARITY.ORG/OPERATIONBLETCHLEY TO FIND OUT MORE. *OPERATIONAL BLETCHLEY IS THE PERFECT WAY TO USE YOUR DAILY EXERCISE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE FOLLOW CURRENT GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING TO REMAIN SAFE. 21 25

FRONTLINE

PARTNERSHIPS & PHILANTHROPY

RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY WITH WO1 KIM HUGHES GC This May, we were delighted to virtually host City and military professionals for our first livestream event, ‘Resilience in Times of Adversity with WO1 Kim Hughes GC’.

WORKING WITH VITAX TO PROVIDE HORTICULTURAL THERAPY FOR INJURED SERVICE PERSONNEL We are delighted to be working with our partner Vitax to provide horticultural therapy for members of the Armed Forces who are wounded, injured and sick.

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Stanford Hall is a world-leading clinical rehabilitation centre for service personnel, which last year received a £7.1m investment from our charity.

Through our partnership, the centre has received 100 bags of Vitax compost to help deliver a year’s worth of horticultural therapy. This service, provided by our partner charity HighGround, forms an essential part of an individual’s rehabilitation journey by providing a sense of purpose, hope and achievement through gardening.

To witness first-hand the difference the donation will make to patients, a tour of the DMRC outdoor gardens took place earlier this year.

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The DMRC is a fantastic facility and it is hugely rewarding to see what a difference gardening can make to both the mental health and physical wellbeing of servicemen and women. We have worked with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for the past two years and are thrilled to work with one of its partners on such an innovative programme, which is changing lives as a result of alternative therapies.

Paul Gooding, Chairman of Vitax

Our keynote speaker for the evening, Warrant Officer Class One Kim Hughes GC - the most highly decorated Bomb Disposal Operator in the Armed Forces – shared his experiences of adapting to the toughest of working environments.

Serving three operational tours of Afghanistan as a High Threat Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Operator, Kim was awarded the George Cross in 2009 for his extraordinary actions in Helmand Province. During deployment, Kim risked his own life to save the lives of comrades by defusing 118 IEDs, including seven by hand without any protective clothing.

Kim continues to serve in the British Army and is now the Group Senior Ammunition Technician, 29 EOD & Search Group.

Following Kim’s talk, questions were taken from viewers. Topics covered personal resilience on operations, effective teamwork and how to continue to be resilient in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kim for the remarkable insight into his 22-year Army career.

Our thanks also go to Kate Billingham Wilson, our Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy and Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, our Chief of Staff, for facilitating the evening and representing our charity.

To keep updated on our networking events, please contact influencersnetwork@

soldierscharity.org

ISSUE 21 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020

RAISING A TOAST ON VE DAY WITH TOMMY PALE ALE While we may not have been able to come together physically to honour VE Day this year, family brewer Wadworth invited communities to raise a toast in remembrance with Tommy Pale Ale. For every bottle sold, 5p is donated towards our work supporting soldiers, veterans and their families in need.

VE Day marks 75 years since Winston Churchill announced the surrender of German fighting forces, bringing an end to World War Two in Europe.

In honour of this event, Wadworth encouraged customers and followers of its virtual pub, The Henry, to share plans of their VE Day celebrations – whether that be dressing up, hosting a virtual afternoon tea, creating window signs or raising a toast with neighbours while practising social distancing.

The history of Wadworth is quite a journey – from being one of the first suppliers to the Army Canteen Board (later re-named the NAAFI) after the outbreak of World War One, to operating during the rationing of World War Two. Today, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Wadworth is hosting a team of service personnel who are decontaminating vehicles at one of their pubs, The Beckford Inn in Gloucestershire. Our partnership with Tommy Pale Ale celebrates these shared links to the Armed Forces and marks the establishment of our charity in 1944 to care for returning World War Two soldiers and their families.

20 YEARS OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION WITH BAE SYSTEMS We are proud to have a long-standing history of over 10 years working with BAE Systems to support the Army family. In the past decade, our partnership has provided educational and vocational training grants to soldiers and veterans experiencing difficulties finding a civilian career.

Thanks to employee fundraising and grants from BAE Systems, hundreds of soldiers in need have had the opportunity to find appropriate work

and restore their dignity. This year, BAE Systems will be supporting our wider grants programme to ensure that those in immediate crisis and need are supported following the COVID-19 crisis. Amongst other things, their support will provide training for those facing unemployment, respite breaks for those with family challenges and living costs for those impacted by the pandemic.

Our thanks go to BAE Systems for their continued support and for working with us flexibly in these unprecedented times.

£303,500 FROM THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO SUPPORTS THE ARMY FAMILY WITH HOUSING NEEDS In August 2019, we were delighted to receive a further grant of £303,500 from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This was part of the Tattoo’s charitable donations totalling £1 million, given to 13 UK-based charitable military organisations and arts bodies. The event, which ordinarily takes place in August at the iconic Edinburgh Castle, is a worldclass public military event with a history spanning 70 years, rooted in Scottish tradition. Sadly, it has been cancelled this year due to coronavirus but we look forward to an even more spectacular event in 2021.

The donation from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has gone primarily towards our work with soldiers, veterans and their families in need of housing support – whether it be our work with partner organisations helping homeless

veterans, our individual housing grants or care-home fees for elderly veterans experiencing hardship. This generous contribution has meant that members of the Army family can live with independence and dignity.

To find out more about The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, please visit

www.edintattoo.co.uk

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SUPPORT THAT NEVER STOPS...

THEY GAVE EVERY DAY. CAN YOU GIVE EVERY MONTH? Our soldiers, veterans and their families have dedicated their lives to serving their country.

That’s why ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the national charity of the British Army, puts their welfare at the heart of everything we do.

The scale and breadth of the support we provide is vast. From helping young serving families cope with a sudden bereavement or traumatic loss to providing wideranging support to wounded soldiers, many of whom will need help for decades to come.

Our grants also help with housing, education and employment training for soldiers and veterans of all ages. And of course, we are there to support older veterans and their widows or widowers when they find themselves lonely, isolated or falling on hard times.

Our support never stops. While there is a British Army, there will be ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

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EVERY MONTH WE HELP PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY VETERANS Last year over £1 million of funding made it possible for veterans to live better lives in their old age. We aim to provide support for soldiers for life.

We are committed to supporting World War Two veterans to live with independence and dignity, and we will do the same for Afghanistan and Iraq veterans in years to come.

EVERY MONTH WE HELP HUNDREDS FIND EMPLOYMENT Last year our funding helped over 1,300 former soldiers back into work. Transitioning to life after the Army can be challenging, particularly for soldiers suffering from illness and injury.

That’s why we never stop providing grants towards education and training, and support specialist charities that help former soldiers embark on a rewarding new career.

EVERY MONTH WE HELP PROVIDE CRUCIAL MOBILITY SUPPORT Funding from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity over the past year, has helped provide Mobility Aids to 390 individuals like Barney Gillespie. We are always on hand to support veterans and their families, both young and old with mobility equipment and home adaptations. This means they can live independently and in the place they feel most comfortable and at home. Many will need our support for the rest of their lives.

Barney lost his leg while serving in Afghanistan. With his mobility severely affected, Barney turned to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for help. We helped Barney with the funding to adapt his driveway and fit a portable ramp at his home for easier access in his wheelchair.

The help Barney received was part of £346,000 we spent on mobility equipment to provide individuals with ‘through-life’ support.

“I’ve suffered two major traumas in my life - the loss of my mother when I was a child, and more recently, my leg. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity has supported me all the way.”

EVERY MONTH WE HELP HUNDREDS OF ARMY FAMILIES Last year we spent £1.5 million supporting members of the Army Family. Our support doesn’t just help former soldiers in times of need but also members of their immediate families, including all future generations of our soldiers and their dependents.

Because our support never stops, we rely on donations from our valued supporters to help us raise the funds needed to continue our vital work.

Regular donations help the charity plan ahead and get funding to those who need it most.

CAN YOU MAKE A REGULAR DONATION TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY GIVEN SO MUCH? Complete and return the attached regular donation form Call 020 7901 8912 Visit soldierscharity.org/everymonth

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (039189) and registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609). Registered Office: Mountbarrow House, 12 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB.

Thank you This year, we have said goodbye to several hardworking staff members from across our national and regional offices. We thank them for their service and wish them the best with their future endeavours.

In addition, we bade farewell to Colonel (Ret’d) Chris Sanderson OBE JP DL, who has retired as Chairman of the Cumbria Committee. Chris took over the committee in September 2015 and has put in a great deal.

of energy into ensuring that the committee maintained a range of events and engagement across Cumbria. He is stepping down to spend more time with his young family.

Our offices

Head Office ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Mountbarrow House, 12 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB T. 020 7901 8900 E. fundraising@ fundraising@ soldierscharity.org

Scotland

North East

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Castle, Edinburgh EH1 2YT T. 0131 310 5132 E. scotland@ scotland@ soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Hipswell Lodge, Smuts Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire DL9 3AX T. 01748 874 127 E. northeast@ northeast@ soldierscharity.org

North West

East Midlands

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Fulwood Barracks, Preston PR2 8AA T. 01772 260 356 E. northwest@ northwest@ soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 5HA T. 01159 572 103 E. eastmidlands@ eastmidlands@ soldierscharity.org

Northern Ireland

East Anglia

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Building 115, Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn BT28 3NP T. 02892 678 112 E. ni@ ni@ soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Building PO PO4, 4, Room 6, Merville Barracks, Circular Road South, Colchester, Essex CO2 7UT T. 01206 817 105 E. eastanglia@ eastanglia@ soldierscharity.org

West Midlands ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Building V5, Venning Barracks, Donnington, Telford, Shropshire TF2 8JT T. 01952 674 369 E. westmidlands@ westmidlands@ soldierscharity.org

London ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Block 7, Room (G39), Wellington Barracks, London SW1E 6HQ T. 020 3903 6030 E. london@ london@ soldierscharity.org

Wales

South East

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Maindy Barracks, Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 CF14 3YE 3YE T. 02920 726 132 E. wales@ wales@ soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Robertson House Slim Road, Camberley Surrey, GU15 4NP T. 01276 412 673 E. southeast@ southeast@ soldierscharity.org

South West ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, (Bulford) Bldg 750, Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 9NY T. 01980 672 337 E. southwest@ southwest @ soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (Exeter) Wyvern Barracks Exeter, Devon EX2 6AR T. 01392 49641 E. southwest@ southwest @ soldierscharity.org

Working in cooperation with our US counterpart, The Soldiers Fund, which supports both US and UK service personnel

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (“the/our charity”) is an incorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales with Charity No.1146420, and in Scotland with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator with Scottish Charity Register No.SC039189. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609) and was incorporated on 2nd March 2012.

We would like to keep in touch but we respect your privacy rights. For full details about how and why we collect, use and store your data, visit www.soldierscharity.org/privacy Remember, you can change your mind at any time about how we contact you, or tell us to stop contacting you altogether. Call on: 0207 901 8912; email: supportercare@ soldierscharity.org; write to: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Mountbarrow House, 6-20 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB; online: www.soldierscharity.org/updatemypreferences