Deepcut: Work and Guns 05 January 2006

It’s very strange working next to Deepcut Barracks. In the distance I can hear men shouting and guns firing, it really is quite unnerving. This uneasy feeling is not helped by the imminent release of the latest Deepcut Shootings inquest report.

Between 1995 and 2002, four young soldiers died of bullet wounds at the barracks. Army investigations found they had taken their own lives, however the family’s suspect the recruits were murdered, or driven to suicide by bullying. The suspicious nature of the deaths, and the unwillingness of the government or Army to conduct a fully open investigation has suggested an establishment cover-up.

Anyway, this was not a pleasant thought to have running round my head when I was waiting for the bus to take me home… the bus stop being within spitting distance of two guys with guns guarding the gates. I am glad I can drive there and back now.

“…now, you should never have to watch your only children lowered in the ground, I mean - you should never have to bury your own babies.”
Dave Matthews Band - Gravedigger

Now I do feel sorry for the for the family’s involved, losing your child must be the hardest thing in the world. Then again, I was watching the ITV News before Christmas and there was an item about a woman whose son had been killed in Iraq. She was understandably very upset, and was writing the Government to complain about what had happened, and how upset she was at the loss of her son… Hold that thought if you will.

If you have seen Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, you would have seen a section with a woman who furious that her son has been killed. Well I’m sorry but I have no sympathy for solders who are killed. Why? Because they are solders, they are effectively hired killers.

You don’t join the Army for the pension scheme. If you have a son or daughter that’s a solder THEY COULD GET KILLED, don’t act surprised about it. It is a risk they take when the join the Army.

Anyone… DUMB enough… to want to be in the military, should be allowed in. End of fucking story. That should be the only requirement.
Bill Hicks