Young Soldiers

[BallochBear 1,613]

I just got this sent from an Ulster friend who tells me this happened to him last month on a trip to Cyprus. IMO it's worth a read and makes one proud to be British.

I put my carry-on bag in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.

It was going to be a long flight from Gatwick.

'I'm glad I have a good book to read perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.

I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you blokes headed?' I asked the young man seated nearest to me.

‘Cyprus’ he said ‘We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan..

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that a snack was free but lunches were available for £5.

It would be several hours before we reached Cyprus, and I quickly decided a lunch would help to pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his mate if he planned to buy lunch.

'No, that seems like a lot of money for just an airline lunch, probably wouldn't be worth five Quid.

I'll wait till we get to Cyprus.’

His mate agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.

None were buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a £50 note.

'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.

Her eyes wet with tears, as she thanked me.

'My bloke was a soldier in Iraq, it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten lunchboxes, she headed up the aisle to where the boys were seated.

She stopped at my seat and asked me 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

‘This is your thanks from the airline crew’ she told me.

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the toilet.

An old bloke stopped me.

'I saw what you did and I want to be part of it, you made me proud today, here, take this.'

He handed me £25.

Soon after I returned to my seat, the Captain came down the aisle, looking at the seat numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.

When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was an RAF pilot a long time back, once someone bought me lunch, it was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers around me.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.

A kid who looked about 18 was sitting about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.

He left another £25 in my palm.

When we landed at Larnaca, I gathered my belongings and started to depart.

Waiting just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.

Another £25.

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip up to the training area..

I walked over to them and handed them the £75 I’d been given.

'It will take you some time to reach your training area. It will be about time for a sandwich.

God Bless You Blokes.'

Ten young blokes left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow Brits.

As I walked briskly to a taxi, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.

These soldiers were giving their all for our country.

I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little.

A British Serviceman is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to 'United Kingdom' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honour, and there are way too many foreigners in this country who don't understand it.'

[supermac 115]

God bless the British soldiers.

[neilstonloyal 186]

haha a thought u wer just going to keep the 75 quid lol

[jimgers 565]

They make us proud to be British.

[IanWATP 0]

They make us proud to be British.

Totally Agree

God Bless Them

[cstamomusa 3,809]

[BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293]

May God be with them all , keep them safe , and return them to their loved ones ,

They put the Great in Great Britain :uk: :uk: :uk: :uk: :uk:

[GersBear 6]

It gives you a warm feeling thinking what they do for Britain's safety.

God bless them all.

[bluenose andy 1]

Rule Brittania

Hope they all return safely

[Martinblair1690 2]

Hopefully pass selection. Then one day I'll be doing yous proud lol

[stuart93 0]

Good story, probably made up though!

[Sgt. Pepper 117]

Rule Britannia!

[BallochBear 1,613]

Good story, probably made up though!

I really doubt it, the old guy is in his 70's and has a place in Cyprus which he has had for years, and he is not the type to make stories up, I do believe this is true.