Afghanistan: A Tour of Duty, Unforgettable Photos of the Afghanistan Campaign

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Fast growing specialist international publisher, Third Millennium Publishing, is pleased to announce that on 29 October 2009 it will be launching Afghanistan: A Tour of Duty.

The book is the very first book of its kind and reveals a remarkable photographic portrait of the Afghanistan campaign, taken by a former Grenadier Guards officer operating from the front line in the Helmand province. All profits from the book will be donated by Third Millennium to BLESMA.

British soldiers in Afghanistan

Every day life captured on film

During his six month tour of duty in 2007 Captain (Rtd) Alexander Allan, 28, captured a number of unforgettable images of ordinary British soldiers sweltering in the heat, liaising with the locals, training the Afghan Army, fighting off Taliban attacks and taking casualties. His feeling for his troops, the camaraderie, sacrifices and how they cope with what they have been sent to do is evident from every image. The accompanying words are by the soldiers themselves.

Lance Sergeant Adam ‘Goolie’ Ball

Lost his leg whilst trying to save colleagues

The book is dedicated to one particular colleague, Lance Sergeant Adam ‘Goolie’ Ball, who towards the end of their tour of duty lost his leg while trying to save two Afghan colleagues injured by landmines. When “Goolie” was asked by Alexander who he thought would be the best recipients from the sale of his book he had no hesitation in replying “BLESMA” for which we are extremely grateful. In his introduction Alexander says: “Some people write prose, some poems, others are raconteurs telling their stories as best they can to an eager audience. These pictures are my diary; take from them what you wish.”

British soldiers’ day-to-day experiences

The life of the British soldier in Afghanistan

In his foreword, General Sir Richard Dannatt GCB, CBE, MC, former Head of the Army says: “…this wonderful book is a graphic record of British soldiers’ day-to-day experiences serving in Afghanistan.….along with service, sadly comes sacrifice, and this photographic record does not flinch from the issue. Readers will get an authentic insight into the realities of life for the British soldier on Afghanistan’s front line. However, they should also be reassured to know that all profits from the sale of this book will, at the wounded soldiers’ own request, go direct to the charity which supports and cares for those who have lost limbs in service. Such motivation and service is truly humbling.”

Stunning photo journalism

The war in Afghanistan captured on film

Captain Patrick Hennessey, author of the Junior Officers’ Reading Club, says: “The Army is fond of saying that a picture paints a thousand words – Captain Allan’s do so with incredible eloquence. Stunning and poignant, nothing I have seen or read in the last few years captures the colour and humanity of the Afghan conflict as well as these brilliant images.”

Buy the book now > Proceeds to Blesma in aid of wounded soldiers

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Meet our amputee Members

Read the stories of wounded British soldiers, meet those who need your support

• Matt Wollard, wounded soldier – Afghanistan
• Kevin Woodford, wounded soldier – Falklands
• Jerome Church, wounded soldier – N Ireland
• Joe Davies, wounded soldier – WWII
• Adam 'Goolie' Ball – wounded soldier – Afghanistan

Amputee helping amputee

The fellowship of shared experience

BLESMA of course does not only look after amputee soldiers, we also care for limbless sailors and limbless airmen. Our work with injured servicemen and women is about amputee helping amputee - the fellowship of shared experience. Our work is about life long welfare support, about campaigning for what wounded soldiers deserve.

Our youngest amputee Member is 19 and our oldest is 99 - truly we are BLESMA for Life.

See our rehabilitation with Corporal Tom Neathway (second movie on our home page)

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