Thinking of Joe Windall, an exceptional former pupil of mine, killed in Afganistan in the Nimrod crash which took the lives of 13. His smile will stay with me forever.
How sad I felt when I read this especially when one so young dies in an ill-defined war against an ill-defined enemy. They serve in a desolate land under extreme conditions. They are there not by choice, but sent by our politicians, in our name. Thanks to an irresponsible government they are under-funded, under-equipped, under-staffed, and, in some cases, under-equipped. In spite of all this, our troops remain loyal. These young service people are suffering death on an almost daily basis. Less well reorted, the associated casualties run into thousands. At home, the families and friends of those serving often lead a life of fear and apprehension. I despise war and dread the news of lives lost for what? Lies about WMD, or whatever, to list them is pointless. I hate it when a young life is lost to something so futile and inhumane as war. My friend said the other day 'I went to a funeral of an 80 year old and it was like a celebration - she had exceeded her three score and ten'. But every time someone young dies - be it by war or other means - such as the four young boys killed in a senseless car crash the other day - there is nothing to celebrate - just a waste.
ROYAL Marine Joseph Windall from Hazlemere has been named as one of the servicemen to die in the Nimrod MR2 aircraft crash on 2 Sept 2006 in Afghanistan. The 22-year-old, from Lowfield Way, was one of 14 Britons killed when the surveillance plane went down near Kandahar. Joseph, or Joe as he was known, had been serving for three years, and had been based in Poole. He grew up in New Road, Tylers Green and went to Tylers Green First and Middle schools and later Holmer Green Upper School. Former teachers paid tribute to Royal Marine Joseph Windall from Hazlemere, who was killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan. He went to Holmer Green Senior School until 2000. David Gilbert, headteacher of the school paid tribute to a "lovely-natured boy". He said: "Joe left Holmer Green Senior School in 2000, which was before my time here, but longer serving members of staff remember him as real character, a lovely-natured boy and a role model for younger pupils. He had a real love of art and drama and often took a leading role in school productions. Joe was a prefect and a member of the school basketball team. "It was always his ambition to join the Royal Marines and he was very proud to have been able to do so. "His death is a tragedy and the thoughts of everyone at the school will be with his family, to whom we offer our sincerest condolences." This tragic incident should serve to remind us all of the risks the British military shoulder on all our behalf across the world every day.
How sad I felt when I read this especially when one so young dies in an ill-defined war against an ill-defined enemy. They serve in a desolate land under extreme conditions. They are there not by choice, but sent by our politicians, in our name. Thanks to an irresponsible government they are under-funded, under-equipped, under-staffed, and, in some cases, under-equipped. In spite of all this, our troops remain loyal. These young service people are suffering death on an almost daily basis. Less well reorted, the associated casualties run into thousands. At home, the families and friends of those serving often lead a life of fear and apprehension. I despise war and dread the news of lives lost for what? Lies about WMD, or whatever, to list them is pointless. I hate it when a young life is lost to something so futile and inhumane as war. My friend said the other day 'I went to a funeral of an 80 year old and it was like a celebration - she had exceeded her three score and ten'. But every time someone young dies - be it by war or other means - such as the four young boys killed in a senseless car crash the other day - there is nothing to celebrate - just a waste.
ReplyDeleteROYAL Marine Joseph Windall from Hazlemere has been named as one of the servicemen to die in the Nimrod MR2 aircraft crash on 2 Sept 2006 in Afghanistan. The 22-year-old, from Lowfield Way, was one of 14 Britons killed when the surveillance plane went down near Kandahar. Joseph, or Joe as he was known, had been serving for three years, and had been based in Poole.
ReplyDeleteHe grew up in New Road, Tylers Green and went to Tylers Green First and Middle schools and later Holmer Green Upper School. Former teachers paid tribute to Royal Marine Joseph Windall from Hazlemere, who was killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan. He went to Holmer Green Senior School until 2000. David Gilbert, headteacher of the school paid tribute to a "lovely-natured boy". He said: "Joe left Holmer Green Senior School in 2000, which was before my time here, but longer serving members of staff remember him as real character, a lovely-natured boy and a role model for younger pupils. He had a real love of art and drama and often took a leading role in school productions. Joe was a prefect and a member of the school basketball team.
"It was always his ambition to join the Royal Marines and he was very proud to have been able to do so.
"His death is a tragedy and the thoughts of everyone at the school will be with his family, to whom we offer our sincerest condolences."
This tragic incident should serve to remind us all of the risks the British military shoulder on all our behalf across the world every day.
You said all the things I wanted to say, but felt I couldn't because I know how proud Joe's parents were of him serving in the Marines.
ReplyDelete