Paul Burns - A Fighting Spirit

PAUL BURNS

A FIGHTING

SPIRIT

The inspiring story of a soldier who survived the loss

of his comrades, faced adversity and overcome it all

This book is dedicated to all those who lost their lives at Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, on 27 August 1979, and to their families.

ANDREWS, Corporal Nicholas J. (2 Para)—aged 24

BARNES, Private Gary I. (2 Para)—aged 18

BEARD, Warrant Officer Walter (2 Para)—aged 31

BLAIR, Lieutenant Colonel David (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 40

BLAIR, Private Donald F. (2 Para)—aged 23

DUNN, Private Raymond (2 Para)—aged 20

ENGLAND, Private Robert N. (2 Para)—aged 23

FURSMAN, Major Peter (2 Para)—aged 35

GILES, Corporal John C. (2 Para)—aged 22

IRELAND, Lance Corporal Chris G. (2 Para)—aged 25

JONES, Private Jeffrey A. (2 Para)—aged 18

JONES, Corporal Leonard (2 Para)—aged 26

JONES, Private Robert D.V. (2 Para)—aged 18

MacLEOD, Lance Corporal Victor (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 24

ROGERS, Sergeant Ian A. (2 Para)—aged 31

VANCE, Private Thomas R. (2 Para)—aged 23

WOOD, Private Anthony G. (2 Para)—aged 19

WOODS, Private Michael (2 Para)—aged 18

Cover

Title Page PAUL BURNS A FIGHTING SPIRIT The inspiring story of a soldier who survived the loss of his comrades, faced adversity and overcome it all

Dedication This book is dedicated to all those who lost their lives at Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, on 27 August 1979, and to their families. ANDREWS, Corporal Nicholas J. (2 Para)—aged 24 BARNES, Private Gary I. (2 Para)—aged 18 BEARD, Warrant Officer Walter (2 Para)—aged 31 BLAIR, Lieutenant Colonel David (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 40 BLAIR, Private Donald F. (2 Para)—aged 23 DUNN, Private Raymond (2 Para)—aged 20 ENGLAND, Private Robert N. (2 Para)—aged 23 FURSMAN, Major Peter (2 Para)—aged 35 GILES, Corporal John C. (2 Para)—aged 22 IRELAND, Lance Corporal Chris G. (2 Para)—aged 25 JONES, Private Jeffrey A. (2 Para)—aged 18 JONES, Corporal Leonard (2 Para)—aged 26 JONES, Private Robert D.V. (2 Para)—aged 18 MacLEOD, Lance Corporal Victor (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 24 ROGERS, Sergeant Ian A. (2 Para)—aged 31 VANCE, Private Thomas R. (2 Para)—aged 23 WOOD, Private Anthony G. (2 Para)—aged 19 WOODS, Private Michael (2 Para)—aged 18

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter One The Terror of Toton

Chapter Two The Maroon Machine

Chapter Three Knowledge Dispels Fear

Chapter Four Warrenpoint

Chapter Five Broken

Chapter Six Moving On

Chapter Seven A Leap of Faith

Chapter Eight Red Devil

Chapter Nine The Wrong Way Round

Chapter Ten Preparing for the Race

Chapter Eleven The Lonely Sea and the Sky

Chapter Twelve The Southern Ocean

Chapter Thirteen Sea Change

Chapter Fourteen Not Forgotten

Chapter Fifteen The Silver Screen

Acknowledgements

Copyright

About the Publisher

This an extraordinary and moving story of courage and fortitude: Paul Burns, as a young soldier in the Parachute Regiment, was grievously wounded in the IRA bomb attack at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland in 1979. He refused to let the loss of one leg and severe damage to his other foot rule his life, and went on to do so many things that might daunt fully able-bodied people: freefall parachuting, sub-aqua, motorbiking, skiing, and round-the-world sailing as a member of a disabled crew.

Paul Burns’s life is a triumph of the human spirit over adversity, and a shining example to us all, able-bodied or not. It is typical of him that he has given so much to others who have lost limbs—not least by his tremendous support to the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA).

General Sir Mike Jackson

Even the most extraordinary days start out ordinary. Today is no exception.

It’s hot. Our uniforms are stifling. The air in the back of the truck in which we’re travelling is heavy with exhaust fumes. I’m sitting at the back, my red beret perched firmly on my head, trying to get a few lungfuls of fresh air.