Why Have so many Wounded Soldiers Become the Forgotten Masses? (From Epsom Guardian)

Why Have so many Wounded Soldiers Become the Forgotten Masses?

9:55pm Tuesday 29th December 2009

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Every day, the news reports are overrun by tragic tales of our British soldiers lost in battle in the Middle East. However, the largely untold stories are those of soldiers stripped of limbs by roadside bombs and those forced into wheelchairs fighting for their country. Rehabilitation centres for our war-wounded, such as Headley Court in Epsom, are working tirelessly to provide support for these people; but these centres are stretched currently by understaffing and overbooking of patients.

Two years ago, a charity named Help for Heroes was set up to raise awareness and funds for wounded Armed Forces personnel. Receiving great support from the public and celebrities alike, Help for Heroes has grown rapidly into one of the most supported and influential charities in the country. For example, funds raised through donations and fundraisers recently bought a new swimming pool for recovering patients at Headley Court, which is currently under construction.

Although Help for Heroes has increased public awareness of the current situation greatly, I feel that there is still too little being done to help recovered soldiers when they are allowed back to their homes. It is extremely difficult for a young person who has recently joined the Armed Forces and has maybe lost a limb or limbs, also undoubtedly suffering some kind of psychological distress as well, to find a stable job. Unfortunately, there are many of them who still wish to work for the Armed Forces, and this may not be possible due to their condition. Their injuries can often lead to prospects of only static office jobs, an eventuality many of them initially joined the Army to avoid.

It is understandable that the felled soldiers are reported to far greater extent than those wounded, but I feel that by this singularity a large percentage of the population are not aware of both the suffering of the war-wounded and the considerable work that goes in to their rehabilitation. While the numbers of soldiers dying in current war is appalling, I think we should take a moment to consider all those who have jeopardised their futures, and suffered so greatly, for our nation’s cause.

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