I’ve been asked this weekend by several individuals my views on the above article, and the two individuals involved.
All I have to say is the following, please don’t judge…unless you’ve walked a mile in those men’s boots.
No matter the cap badge, job or indeed industry…we at our age, are all breakable, worn at the edges and susceptible to coming off badly at times.
I’ve said before in comments, I see no difference between the SAS/SBS or any other unit in the British military, because we all came to the SAS/SBS from another unit in the first place…otherwise there would be no SF at all.
I like to think of my mates (and yes, they will always be my mates) of when they were at the top of their game. Life, and especially military life can take it’s toll. Again, I mentioned in a blog post recently, led poisoning from many hours in the CQB house live firing day after day after day, traumatic brain injury from being inside the over pressure of explosive entry to buildings, PTSD, the dreaded drink, plus other natural ailments can effect all of us as we climb into our 60s, 70s and even 80s, as many of the lads of my era are now. There are many from that day, no longer with us, and therefore no longer have any voice at all…I just wonder what they would make of it all?
Yes, self imposed public figures need to behave impeccably. However, we’re all human…it’s not good for the Regiment, it’s not nice to see or hear, and it’s not good for those of us left alive, who are about to mark a period in history with a day of Remembrance pretty soon in May of this year.
To me, it doesn’t matter who did what, as we were all part of a small but highly effective team of professionals. We all had individual jobs to do, and it was the collective gathering of those tasks that made the operation a huge and still talked about success.
The media love to sensationalize stories for profit, that’s all this newspaper article has become…from a wee spat on social media, and remarks from those who wished to follow it up.
Personally I’m immensely proud to have had a small task on that day. I’m proud that my task was successful, and I’m proud of each and every member of the team on that day. For me, no matter an individuals behaviour today, they will always be awesome men in my mind, because I remember them for what they were at the height of their soldiering careers, not how they may or may not present themselves today or tomorrow.
Bob Shepherd 
Well said sir
Very well said. ‘Understand, don’t judge’, I say this all the time but sadly it rarely happens.
Military service will always be our bond.Media coverage today can sometimes sensationalise the ordinary.As always well said Bob
Anybody who served, regardless of male or female deserves our sincere thanks and respect. I served 46 years in uniform serving HM and I studied arabic with some very good mates back in the 70’s Sandy Wells, Ray Wisdom and “Pip” Jackson. I rest my case .