Yesterday’s 13-mile Yuletide Yomp to raise money for injured servicemen included current and former soldiers, cadets, local dignitaries and other supporters. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0895323)
GUERNSEY soldiers showed their support for comrades yesterday when they took to the roads to raise money for Help for Heroes.
The 13-mile Yuletide Yomp was organised by serving rifleman Alex Ward. He, along with more than 10 other serving local troops, was home for Christmas.
They were joined by former servicemen, supporters, Elizabeth College Combined Cadet Force members and Lt-Governor Sir Fabian Malbon and Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland.
‘I knew a lot of the lads would be home and it seemed like a good opportunity to raise some money for the troops. A lot of them won’t be home for Christmas,’ said Mr Ward, who is currently serving with the 5th Battalion the Rifles, stationed in Paderborn, Germany.
He saw active service in Basra this year and expects to be posted to Afghanistan in the next couple of years.
‘It’s great for us all to get together. I didn’t realise how many serving guys there were from the island,’ said Mr Ward, who hopes the event will become regular.
Lance Corporal Martin Le Page, 22, of the Scots Guards, served in Afghanistan in 2007/8 and is currently in the middle of operation-specific training at his base in Catterick. He will be back in Afghanistan from spring 2010 for six months working with the local police.
‘I have friends who have lost legs and been badly injured out there. This is the least I can do – I might need it one day,’ said Mr Le Page.
He and Mr Ward were both cadets in Guernsey and have been friends ever since.
The yomp featured serving officers from the Royal Marine Commandos, the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and the Royal Army Medical Corps.
At 16, Louie Le Prevost is still at La Mare de Carteret High – but in September he will sign up as a junior soldier. He took part in the yomp and represented the local Army Cadets.
‘It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and getting onto the junior soldier course means I can get there as soon as possible,’ said Mr Le Prevost.
Several of the serving troops were former cadets who got in touch with Mr Le Prevost and asked if he would like to take part. ‘It’s great to be involved and show my support,’ he said.
Craftsman Alex Priaulx, 18, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers a year and a half ago.
He is responsible for recovery mechanics on all military vehicles.
‘That could be at a base in the UK or out in Afghanistan,’ he said.
He said it was important to support Help for Heroes.
‘It’s a good cause and a given that if anything like this is organised we will all take part,’ he said.
One man who walked with the troops was nurse Paul Parkinson.
The Australian, currently working in Guernsey, has two sons aged 29 and 27 who are Commandos in the Royal Australian Army.
The eldest was awarded a distinguished bravery award but the youngest was recently injured during active service.
‘Caleb got medevaced out so this means a lot to me. I wanted to come up and give them my support,’ he said.
The party set off from the Rocquettes Hotel at 11am. Their route took them down to Cobo and around the coast to the north before heading down Route Militaire and through St Peter Port back to the hotel.
Help for Heroes Channel Islands coordinators Marco Ciotti and Ben Remfrey helped Mr Ward organise the event, which it was hoped would raise thousands for wounded British troops.
Article posted on 29th December, 2009 - 2.29pm
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