My step-brother was in the Scots Guards in Norn. My dad & his wife visited him in Belfast & it was a new world to them. Exiting the barracks, Alan was issued with a handgun as he was going out in civvies (not sure if this was the same for all, or just those in Intelligence, as he was). They went to a cafe & he was unusually short when they were deciding where to sit. He later explained that he chose the table because he had a full view of all entrances & exits. And that's the sum total of what he told them he was doing! I found it astonishing. I realised that in uniform you were a target, but had previously given no thought to them being in civvies. The only place the lads could relax was in barracks, & even that was under constant threat.
Alan served in Iraq & Afghanistan too, where he was the victim of an IED. Horrific injuries which I won't trouble you with. He died of his wounds almost a year later. Right to the end he expected to return to duty, but it wasn't to be. I didn't know him all that well, yet find myself fighting back tears typing this. I've not cried since I was 12, just to give you the full picture.
The last thing Alan did for the regiment was to meet Prince Charles at York Minster. You might notice that a big lump of his head is missing.
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Apols if I've gone on a bit, but just so proud of him.