The Droppin Well bombing. December 6, 1982,

Once again, like every year, we remember our fallen comrades.

Welcome Sarah to the best home bar none enjoy the banter were always here for each other enjoy...

Ok guys get the no more Sorries.

I wear my heart on my sleeve, and if I can help anyone as much as people have helped me, Im then happy.

spk soon

regards
sarah

[babybio18]

welcome sarah, its nice to see another lady around we are multiplying slowly but surely and like the lads have said feel free to join in the banter anytime

lest we forget

No apology neeed.....you're welcome here anytime. I know sometimes that we seem a little irreverant and jokey but those on here have hearts of gold.

Absolutely no need to apologise for what you said Sarah ... I thought it was a very moving, open and honest comment.

No need to knock or ring the bell ...... just pop in and join us at any time.

Sorry if the pun mistress offended anybody but PTSD has invaded my marriage so much that is what it feels like, an invisible 3rd person, who dictates to us what we can and can't do.

No need to say sorry . We all have nicked names for it . Black Dog, Black Cloud, The Black Room , The faraway corner . So you have added another name that helps people to face the problem

Thank you all for your kind words.


We do fully intend to go back to Ballykelly this year as the Memorial Stone in barracks has to be moved, so there will be a special service for that, hopefully the kids will come this time so they will also understand Steve and his Mistress PTSD a little better, and to learn more about the people who were there.
We talk quite a lot about Steves Army life and that if it wasn't for the people he met over the years he probably wouldn't be the Man he is now, He has many happy memories of the Army and we laugh at his stories he tells, and we remember the friends he lost.

ops: Sorry if the pun mistress offended anybody but PTSD has invaded my marriage so much that is what it feels like, an invisible 3rd person, who dictates to us what we can and can't do.

Sarah

It is the storys, the talk of about those people that are no longer with us helps to keep them alive in our hearts and thoughts. It also helps us to come out of that dark room that we hide in some times.
Thank you for sharing this story with us Sarah.
We shall not forget

Hi Sarah, you'll find a common theme amongst a lot of us on here, that of guilt, do please stick around and join in, all welcome... :)

Sarah thanks for sharing that with us, we are honoured that you chose to come onto the site.

Please feel free to come on anytime either of you feel the need to talk, and our best wishes to yourself and your husband.

25 years later

Happy new to you all.

My hubby (RAMC ret'd) and myself went to the 25th memorial service and later to the Pub. It was the first time since the blast that he had ever been back to the pub and it broke his heart.
He does not remember to much of the night in question, he remembers going to the loo and the next thing he was trying to save someone life, so I presume he blacked out or his brain won't let him recall the event. He now suffers severely with PTSD, and carries alot of guilt the same as many of the guys from that night.
But going back and seeing a few faces from the past along with the warm welcome we got from everyone has put a new chapter along side that part of his life.
I was only 10 when it all happen so I never knew about the 6th Dec until I got together with Taffy, but I do Now and I vow never to let the people who died and the ones who survived be forgotten as long as I live.

Rest In Peace to them all

Regards
Sarah

I was in Fort George/Shantallow RUC base that night and we heard the explosion from approx 10-15 miles away.
A mate, (RUCR) who I still work with, was stationed in Strand Road but was off duty that night. He was sitting in the main lounge talking to the owner's daughter and got up to use the loos. He was just about to open the door back into the lounge when the bomb went off, burying him in rubble. He still refers to himself "as one of the lucky ones", but it's plain to see that it had a great effect on him emotionally and physically.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM ALL....

Never forgotten