17/08/2009
Recovery Home For Injured Soldiers Opens
Britain's first Army recovery centre to treat injured soldiers is to be officially opened.
The head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, will join other servicemen to open the convalescing centre at Erskine, Edinburgh.
The purpose-built 12-bed centre will provide for soldiers who have been wounded on duty and are not well enough to return to their unit.
In the recovery centre injured soldiers will receive treatment, work towards getting promotion or move onto civilian life.
The development came as news that another three British soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan emerged, taking the number of UK fatalities to 204 - following two other military deaths at the weekend.
The numbers are in addition to a private security guard - also a TA soldier - from Northern Ireland, being killed.
The landmark rehabilitation facility, created by a partnership with the Army, Erskine and the Help for Heroes campaign, is part of a pilot scheme which if proves successful will be rolled out across the UK.
A spokesperson for the centre said: "This new extension to the Erskine home aims to bridge the gap between hospital and Army life.
"It is state of the art, with a gym, internet cafe and individual bedrooms with specially adapted bathrooms."
At the official opening ceremony General Sir Richard Dannatt will be joined by Lance-Corporal Robert Reid, of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was left blind in one eye following a roadside bomb attack in southern Iraq in 2008.
See: Many More Die In Afghanistan
(GK/BMcC)
The head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, will join other servicemen to open the convalescing centre at Erskine, Edinburgh.
The purpose-built 12-bed centre will provide for soldiers who have been wounded on duty and are not well enough to return to their unit.
In the recovery centre injured soldiers will receive treatment, work towards getting promotion or move onto civilian life.
The development came as news that another three British soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan emerged, taking the number of UK fatalities to 204 - following two other military deaths at the weekend.
The numbers are in addition to a private security guard - also a TA soldier - from Northern Ireland, being killed.
The landmark rehabilitation facility, created by a partnership with the Army, Erskine and the Help for Heroes campaign, is part of a pilot scheme which if proves successful will be rolled out across the UK.
A spokesperson for the centre said: "This new extension to the Erskine home aims to bridge the gap between hospital and Army life.
"It is state of the art, with a gym, internet cafe and individual bedrooms with specially adapted bathrooms."
At the official opening ceremony General Sir Richard Dannatt will be joined by Lance-Corporal Robert Reid, of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who was left blind in one eye following a roadside bomb attack in southern Iraq in 2008.
See: Many More Die In Afghanistan
(GK/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
30 July 2009
MoD's 'About-Turn' On Compo Welcomed
The families of two injured soldiers whose compensation awards were being challenged today welcomed a Government U-turn - but said it should never have tried to slash their sons' payouts in the first place.
MoD's 'About-Turn' On Compo Welcomed
The families of two injured soldiers whose compensation awards were being challenged today welcomed a Government U-turn - but said it should never have tried to slash their sons' payouts in the first place.
07 September 2007
Two British Soldiers Killed Are Named
Two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence. Private Ben Ford, 18, and Private Damian Wright, 23, were both from the 2nd Battallion The Mercian Regiment. They were taking part in a routine reassurance patrol when the WMIK Landrover vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion.
Two British Soldiers Killed Are Named
Two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence. Private Ben Ford, 18, and Private Damian Wright, 23, were both from the 2nd Battallion The Mercian Regiment. They were taking part in a routine reassurance patrol when the WMIK Landrover vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion.
01 August 2006
Three British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. A fourth soldier was seriously injured. The MoD said that the troops were part of the 4,000-strong Nato-led International Security Assistance Force on patrol in the volatile Helmand Province around 0630 GMT when they were attacked.
Three British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. A fourth soldier was seriously injured. The MoD said that the troops were part of the 4,000-strong Nato-led International Security Assistance Force on patrol in the volatile Helmand Province around 0630 GMT when they were attacked.
30 May 2006
MoD names two soldiers killed in Iraq
The Ministry of Defence has released the names of two soldiers killed in Iraq at the weekend.
MoD names two soldiers killed in Iraq
The Ministry of Defence has released the names of two soldiers killed in Iraq at the weekend.
28 September 2004
Two soldiers killed in southern Iraq
Two British soldiers have died following an ambush outside the town of Basra in southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Soldiers came under fire as they tried to rescue others from an armoured Land Rover which had been hit by a rocket-propelled grenade at around 0615BST.
Two soldiers killed in southern Iraq
Two British soldiers have died following an ambush outside the town of Basra in southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Soldiers came under fire as they tried to rescue others from an armoured Land Rover which had been hit by a rocket-propelled grenade at around 0615BST.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.