Soldier paralysed in Afghanistan back on duty

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:05am GMT 30/12/2007

A paratrooper who was shot in Afghanistan has become the first tetraplegic to return to duty.

Sgt David "Paddy" Caldwell was directing mortar fire from a rooftop in Sangin in August last year when a Taliban bullet passed through his neck.


Road to recovery: Sgt David “Paddy” Caldwell and his fiancee, Mel

Another soldier, Cpl Karl Jackson, was awarded the Military Cross for pulling him back while under enemy fire, allowing his platoon sergeant to have surgery within the crucial "golden hour".

He received further treatment at Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital but was paralysed from the neck down and told his chances of recovery were slim. The AK47 bullet severely damaged his spine, sending it into shock and causing an injury called C4 Incomplete.

"I joined the army to serve for 22 years in the Parachute Regiment - so it was hard then.

I thought 'this might be it, I might be disabled for the rest of my life'," said the 32-year-old.

However, after a few days he detected "one of the best sights I have seen in a long time" - a wiggle in his big toe. It was the first step on a long road which, with the paratrooper's extraordinary determination, might see him walk again.

Although still confined to a wheelchair, he has recovered enough movement to be given a job with 3 Para in Colchester as the senior NCO helping to run the unit's welfare office. "It is going to be a long, long process - potentially I could make a full miracle recovery," he said.

"But every day is a bonus because I'm feeling stronger mentally and physically."

Sgt Caldwell spent several weeks at a specialist spine unit in Stanmore, sharing a ward with car crash victims, some of whom were in line for compensation of £2 million.

He has received £200,000 from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, as well as a war pension, but insists the money is not important to him. "To be honest I would rather be in the red every month and be on my feet," he said.

Lt Col Stuart Tootal, the commanding officer of 3 Para, said: "Sgt Caldwell has been something of a trail-blazing test case for the Army and lots of people have worked very hard to get Paddy what he deserves.

"His courage and determination to succeed has been quite humbling and all of us in 3 Para are enormously proud of him."

Sgt Caldwell's colleagues helped to ensure he received the support he required from a system which was not designed to cater for his injuries. An Army home has been refurbished at a cost of £100,000 and the local NHS Trust has agreed to pay for full-time carers.

Sgt Caldwell added: "Everyone's really helped in the battalion and I hope other regiments are doing the same thing looking after their wounded."

Although engaged, he refuses to marry until he can walk at least a few paces down the aisle.

"It's going to be hard," he said. "There's two ways of looking at it, you can either sit on your backside and blame the world and be miserable or just crack on."

3 Para has set up a fund to help its 26 wounded soldiers.

Cheques can be made payable to the Afghanistan Trust and sent to 3 Para, Hyderabad Barracks, Mersea Rd, Colchester CO2 7TB, or paid into account no. 10548799, sort code 16-19-26.have your say

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"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes..."

Much respect,

Uncle Lassen Salutes him.

Good for Him to want to,and be allowed to,get Back to what he Loves.

When people of Full Function see a person Paralyzed working and not sitting at home it should inspire everyone to go full out.

Getting Movement in his toe is Great News as his body is mending itself,though it will take time,YEARs to progress slowly it is Great news.

All the Best to this young Para.

Let's Hope this New Year and future New Years Brings this Para and others like him,injured in battle,all the Best in Life.

Hero made 13 wartime bids for freedom

By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:13pm GMT 19/01/2008

Bertram "Jimmy" James, described by one military historian as Britain's greatest war hero, escaped from 13 German prisoner-of-war camps and was one of 76 officers who escaped from Stalag Luft III on the night of March 24, 1944.

Fifty of them were executed on Hitler's orders after being recaptured, but the RAF squadron leader survived the war and outlived the century, to die peacefully on Friday, aged 92.

Although he was recaptured, he was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, from which he escaped again, only to be caught again after 14 days on the run.

The British officer's adventures in Germany began in May 1940 when his Wellington bomber was shot down over the Netherlands, which had recently been overrun by the Nazis.

The military historian Howard Tuck, a close friend of the veteran, said that James had dug the first RAF escape tunnel of the war, at Stalag Luft I, in Bart, in 1941.

"He was the country's greatest living war hero. He had a truly remarkable life," said Mr Tuck. "This guy was truly unique and he was the finest gentleman anyone could ever meet. To me, he represented not only an era, but a type of Englishman you rarely meet. He was honest and funny, and I used to talk to him like he was 25."

When James was sent to Stalag Luft III, he immediately joined the group of Allied officers planning what eventually came to be known as the Great Escape.

More than 100 men were involved in digging the 365ft tunnel, codenamed "Harry". James was in charge of a team dispersing the excavated soil.

In total, 200 camp inmates were selected to make the attempt, with 76 escaping before a sentry discovered the mouth of the tunnel.

James had been allocated place number 39 and joined a group of 12 men who posed as foreign workers going home on leave. They had planned to head for Czechoslovakia, where they hoped to make contact with the local resistance, but were arrested while attempting to change trains.

At first, Hitler ordered that all those recaptured be shot but, allegedly due to pressure from Hermann Goering, who feared reprisals against Luftwaffe prisoners, the order was changed to "more than half to be shot". Of the 76 who escaped, three - a Dutchman and two Norwegians - reached freedom; the rest were recaptured. Fifty were executed, 15 returned to Stalag Luft III and eight, James among them, sent to Sachsenhausen.

But he remained undeterred. Using a table knife, he soon tunnelled his way out again, but was caught 14 days later. He was awarded the Military Cross and mentioned in dispatches for his escape attempts.

James then remained incarcerated until he and other prisoners were liberated by the US army on May 3, 1945.

The veteran, who left the RAF in 1954, leaves a wife, Madge.

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"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes..."