Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

@BritishArmy Veteran | @11_EOD_Regiment | Founder Of @RestoreVets | @RestoreBritain Member | @RestoreAGB

🇬🇧🌹 "My Passion Is Our Veteran Community" 🌹🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@_HenryBolton Absolutely shambolic, I'm actually lost for words.

These people don't need educated, simply shouldn't be here.

[👑 @Cairnlodge1]

At just 18 years old, #Private @JohnathonYoung volunteered to walk at the very front of patrols in #Sangin — searching for the #bombs that could kill the men behind him.

He had not even been in #Afghanistan 🇦🇫 three weeks.

Johnathon had joined the #Army at 17 and served with #3rdBattalion, The #YorkshireRegiment 🏵. In July 2009, when volunteers were needed at short notice to reinforce #British 🇬🇧 troops in Afghanistan, he stepped forward.

On 2nd August, he deployed to #Helmand and was attached to #2ndBattalion #TheRifles in Sangin.

Then came another choice.

Johnathon volunteered to become #LeadScout — one of the most dangerous jobs on patrol.

He would move ahead of the others, helping to find and confirm #IED's "improvised explosive devices" and clear a route through tracks, compounds, and alleyways.

He took that responsibility seriously. Fellow #soldiers remembered him spending his own evenings practising the skills and drills he would need at the front of the #FootPatrol. #PrivateYoung was the #Epitome of an #English warrior.

On 20th August 2009, Afghan election day, Johnathon was helping clear a route near Forward Operating Base #FOB #Wishtan.

He was using a metal detector on the ground known to contain IEDs when he stepped on a concealed device.

He was #killed #instantly.

He was 18 years old. JUST A KID.

Around half an hour later, #Serjeant #PaulMcAleese of #2RIFLES was also killed by an #IED while attempting to recover Johnathon’s body.

Two soldiers lost on the same dangerous stretch of ground.

Johnathon had been a trained soldier for less than a year and had been in Afghanistan for only 18 days. Yet in that short time, he had already placed himself where the danger was greatest.

Not for recognition.
Not for reward.
He simply volunteered to do the job.

His comrades remembered “Youngy” for his humour, #loyalty, and the way he lifted those around him. But his service is remembered for something even more lasting: when others needed someone at the front, Johnathon stepped forward.

Private Johnathon Andrew Young was only 18 when his life ended in Sangin.

But the courage shown in those final weeks has outlived them.

#John 15:13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 👑
#KingJamesVersion #KJV

"REST EASY SOLDIER - YOUR DUTY IS DONE"

Lest We Forget. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌺🇬🇧🏵👑🦅

#JohnathonYoung #YorkshireRegiment #Afghanistan #LestWeForget #3Yorks #BritishArmy #Warrior #Hero #SupremeSacrifice

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

🇬🇧 Vets 🤝 Vets 🇺🇸

Thank you to both my Red, White and Blue brothers/sisters who are following.

It's a unity no political leader will ever understand, Unless they have walked in our shoes.

#UKVets #USVets

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@CristianaEmsley Gone but not forgotten, RIP Brother 🫡🌹

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@Perky_43 Absolutely heartbreaking. 🫡🌹

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@RestoreCornwall Always have our support 🩷 🫡

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@UKCopHumour 🫡🇬🇧 Rest Easy Brother. 🌹

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@laticssamuala 🫡🇬🇧🌹

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

🚔 In Remembrance:

I stand with the Police community in these horrific circumstances.

No one should go to work and never return home.

My thoughts are with Family, Friends and Colleagues of both PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades.

PC Tom Clough was one of us. 🌹

Thank you both for your service 🫡

#ThinBlueLine #UKPolice

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

🔊 Support Our Own

Absolutely stunning craft.

Any Vets interested get over to @GOV3DUK

🫡🇬🇧

[Grump Old Veteran UK @GOV3DUK]

Something a bit different from a traditional crest display.
My 3D relief carvings are precision CNC carved in solid hardwood and hand finished to bring out the natural grain.
See more at Grumpy Old Veteran.
#MilitaryCrests #VeteranMade

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@specialopsmag 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@MANDARINLEISURE @RestoreVets Thanks mate 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@MANDARINLEISURE @RestoreVets Just stressed out mate, snatching the trigger at everything mate, feels heavy ATM but things will work out am sure.

If not, I will join Labours welfare state.

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@djdegt @RestoreVets Plenty applications over the weekend done, probs here something tomorrow or threw the week. 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@MANDARINLEISURE @RestoreVets So so Martin, getting close to the old redundancy, other than that can't complain bro. 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@SteveGardner982 @RestoreBritHil Following brother. 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@LibertyLydia @RestoreEastLdn Outstanding, well done all. 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@KTTXBY70 @RestoreVets Is what it is mate, just gotta push threw. Appreciate the link mate. 🫡🇬🇧

[Darren Thomson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 @DarrenRBAFV]

@djdegt @RestoreVets Yea same brother, just on the job hunt really, got till the 1st Sept before am panicking lol