Reliving Basra horrors aids Help for Heroes (From This is Hampshire)

Reliving Basra horrors aids Help for Heroes

1:50pm Wednesday 16th April 2008 in

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TWO soldiers who experienced the dangers of life in Iraq at first hand relived their stories at an event in Quarley Village Hall which raised £755 for the Help for Heroes charity.

The presentation was given by Major James Bryant and Corporal Tony Burbidge, both of whom serve with the Bulford-based 4 Rifles.

"The audience, including many former servicemen, were stunned by the audio-visual presentation which graphically show-ed the intensity of war-fighting with our troops under constant small arms, rocket propelled grenade, mortar and roadside bomb attacks," said organiser Hilary Seddon.

"One memorable video clip showed the crew of a bulldog armoured personnel carrier desperately fighting off attacks while trapped at one of the Basra bridges. Neith-er was there any respite in the Basra Palace base, which was under constant mortar attack."

Tony Burbidge completed the presentation with his experience of Basra, having been severely wounded in the arm in August.

Despite being within seven minutes of death, he survived due to the superb immediacy of treatment at the Basra base before he could be evacuated back to the Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and latterly at Headley Court in Surrey.

He spoke highly of his treatment but reiterated the need to enhance facilities at Headley Court, which was never expected to cater with the current vilume of casualties.