I am a surgeon in the Royal Army Medical Corps. I served with the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards as the Regimental Medical Officer in the early 1990's, including a tour in Northern Ireland. I now work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where we receive all the injured service personnel from around the world. The last decade has seen many casualties return to the UK. I have seen very many eye injuries that have come to the QEHB, a large number over the years. Young service personnel are a vulnerable group in society who really do require our support as they have made a commitment to society that is extraordinary, and become physically and mentally injured as a result. This is something most of society will not be able to understand from a personal point of view. But we can support in our own way. I think Siegfried Sassoon put this very well.

Does it matter?-- losing your legs?….

For people will always be kind,

And you need not show that you mind

When others come in after hunting

To gobble their muffins and eggs.

Does it matter?-- losing your sight?….

There’s such splendid work for the blind;

And people will always be kind, as you sit on the terrace remembering

And turning your face to the light.

Do they matter?--those dreams from the pit?….

You can drink and forget and be glad,

And people won’t say that you’re mad;

For they’ll know you’ve fought for your country

And no one will worry a bit.