Wednesday 24 February 2010

REAL Tough Guys!


I felt privileged to get a personal invitation from Billy Wilson, the well known charity fundraiser from Wolverhampton, to attend and photograph an Atmy exercise on his farm at Perton the other day. The news had been embargoed until early on the morning of the event as the troops concerned are off to Afghanistan very shortly

These brave young men and women took on a slightly sanitised version of the Tough Guy course, as the MoD apparently felt that the civilian version was too risky, with its fire runs and electric prods!!!

Never the less the weather proved to be the challenging factor as the water temperature was low enough to risk hypothermia, and I saw several casualties being stretchered to waiting Army ambulances. Fortunately I heard from the MO later that they were all recovered and were eating heartily!
Although I captured many dramatic and gritty images I think that this one show the British soldier at his best - having a laugh despite the conditions!