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Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 1149 Location: Glasgow

After reading the following article I am left in no doubt the trauma and torment faced by the families must be Immense.

My heart goes out to every last one of them especially the ones who keep pursuing Justice for the Families who are being denied the proper chance to grieve.

http://www.sundaypost.com/postindex.htm

Facing their fears in a
return to Lockerbie

By Adam Docherty

SEVEN ex-servicemen who are still being treated for horrific flashbacks after cleaning up the Lockerbie bombing carnage have revisited the site — for the first time in more than 20 years.

Five former Royal Highland Fusiliers and two ex-RAF men were finally convinced to confront their greatest fears by taking a bus to the busy town to see how it is today.

Therapists at Hollybush House in Ayrshire, a treatment centre run by post traumatic stress disorder charity Combat Stress, arranged the trip last week to help the men lay some of their personal ghosts to rest.

They visited sites where they worked, the cemetery and in a poignant and tearful ceremony laid a wreath at the garden of remembrance.

Former RHF private Steven Turley was just 20 when he was despatched from Redford Barracks to Lockerbie soon after the disaster on December 21, 1988.

“We were there to pick up debris but as the day wore on we found ourselves in the surrounding fields and the Rosebank area, where the houses had been brought down.

“I’ll never forget what I saw there. Bodies had been cut in half and were lying around the street. We had to take the remains to a makeshift mortuary at the ice rink.

Normality

“I see the scenes in my mind every night. I’d certainly not have gone back myself. However, I was taken aback by the day-to-day normality of life there now.

“It was sunny, there were nice wee patios and people were getting on with things. In my mind’s eye the place looks totally different. It was dark, cold and full of horror.

“A guide took us to some of the places where we worked and places I remember picking up bodies. But it was very uplifting to see how it has changed.

“My symptoms didn’t really appear until six years ago, the nightmares, the flashbacks. I kept it a secret from my family but thankfully I found out about Hollybush House which I attend three or four times a year. Before then I’d tried to completely blank it out.

“However, I’m chuffed we did it and I do feel better for it.”

John Musgrave was 24 when he was sent to the scene. In his work with the RAF Mountain Rescue Team based at Stafford he had previous experience with tragic scenes. But nothing had prepared him for what he saw at Lockerbie.
“I worked in the search for bodies in the fields. It was a traumatic experience.

“Just days after Lockerbie I attended a massive pile-up on the M1 where I gave injured people first aid. I later had to leave the armed services due to the trauma and I’ll never be able to work again. I suffer flashbacks and panic attacks.

Comradeship

“I’m glad I made the visit — although I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it again. I appreciated the comradeship as we went back to Lockerbie and feel it has really helped.

“I revisited the fields again and there was real sense of peace there. The town centre has changed too.

“My thoughts are that if the local people can get their lives back then maybe we can too.”

Steven McGill was a 19-year-old private with the Royal Highland Fusiliers when the PanAm jet fell out of the sky.

He’d tried to return to Lockerbie on his own several times but the closest he got was the roundabout outside town.

“The idea of going back was overwhelming at first but having done it I feel I now have a real opportunity to rebuild my future.

“I tried to commit suicide three or four times due to the trauma and I owe my life to the fantastic treatment at Hollybush House.

“The visit has allowed me to see Lockerbie in a whole new light. Hopefully we can focus on this and try to see life in a whole new light too.

“I’m also hoping to go back to work at some point. I’ve had 43 jobs so far — I never told my employers the symptoms were caused by my experiences.

“I feel I was let down by the Government, they did nothing to help my symptoms. But thankfully Combat Stress has provided the help I need.

“The big problem is that people suffering PTSD feel alone. There are a lot of guys out there suffering in silence. I hope they admit to themselves they have a problem and contact Combat Stress.

“We all feel so relieved about having made this visit and hope we can rebuild our future.”

Fiona Manson, charge nurse at Hollybush House, accompanied the men. She said, “The atmosphere in the bus on the way there was extremely tense.

“However, all the men benefited from revisiting the scenes where they worked and from laying the wreath. The atmosphere on the way back was one of sheer relief.

“We worked with the men before the visit to reduce the stress. Exposure work — like revisiting the scenes of trauma — can be a very useful therapy.”

If this is what experienced Soldiers are suffering what damage has been done to the families of those who died so tragically on this fateful day ?

Please spare a thought for the families.

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