Sgt Mark Sutcliffe
Encyclopedia
Mark Sutcliffe joined the British Army
in 1997 aged 17, enlisting into the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers, initially joining C (Northamptonshire) Company. In 1999 he was selected to join the Close Reconnaissance Platoon (Recce Platoon), over the next 9 years Sgt Sutcliffe served with the Battalion in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.
In spring 2006 2 R ANGLIAN deployed to Iraq as part of OP TELIC 8 forming Basra
City South Battle group. On July 18 2006, the Recce Platoon were conducting offensive Operations around the area of Al-Hadi and 5 mile market with-in the city confines of Basra
. The patrol was initially contacted by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), directly hitting Sgt Sutcliffe on the leg. The blunt trauma
was severe taking his leg off at the point of impact, although having failed to detonate continued on its flight path injuring a young Iraqi child.
Despite massive blood loss, Sgt Sutcliffe life was saved by the quick thinking, bravery and true grit of the patrol commander and the soldiers under his command.
Sgt Sutcliffe was flown to the British Field Hospital located within Shaibah Logistics Base and underwent immediate surgery, then transferred to the United Kingdom for further treatment. In November 2006 he took his first steps using a Prosthesis
whilst posted to DMRC Headley Court.
ic
Sgt Mark Sutcliffe is one of the patrons of Help for Heroes
, a member of Blesma
and now one of four Military Liaison Officers posted to Selly Oak Hospital, looking after the needs of injured soldiers and their families.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1997 aged 17, enlisting into the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers, initially joining C (Northamptonshire) Company. In 1999 he was selected to join the Close Reconnaissance Platoon (Recce Platoon), over the next 9 years Sgt Sutcliffe served with the Battalion in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.
In spring 2006 2 R ANGLIAN deployed to Iraq as part of OP TELIC 8 forming Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
City South Battle group. On July 18 2006, the Recce Platoon were conducting offensive Operations around the area of Al-Hadi and 5 mile market with-in the city confines of Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
. The patrol was initially contacted by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), directly hitting Sgt Sutcliffe on the leg. The blunt trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
was severe taking his leg off at the point of impact, although having failed to detonate continued on its flight path injuring a young Iraqi child.
Despite massive blood loss, Sgt Sutcliffe life was saved by the quick thinking, bravery and true grit of the patrol commander and the soldiers under his command.
Sgt Sutcliffe was flown to the British Field Hospital located within Shaibah Logistics Base and underwent immediate surgery, then transferred to the United Kingdom for further treatment. In November 2006 he took his first steps using a Prosthesis
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
whilst posted to DMRC Headley Court.
ic
Sgt Mark Sutcliffe is one of the patrons of Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
, a member of Blesma
BLESMA
BLESMA, full title British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association, is a charity for disabled Ex-Service Men and Women, their dependents and widows...
and now one of four Military Liaison Officers posted to Selly Oak Hospital, looking after the needs of injured soldiers and their families.
External links
- http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/399230/Help-for-Heroes-campaign-Donate-for-British-soldiers-wounded-while-fighting-in-Iraq-and-Afghanistan.html
- http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Militarymedicine/Pages/SergeantSutcliffecasestudy.aspx
- http://lincolnshire.britishlegion.org.uk/index.cfm?asset_id=1376
- http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=A826307F-5056-A318-A89CA6B4490C4E91
- http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/07/04/city-boost-in-care-of-injured-soldiers-97319-21266056/
- http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3084783.ece
- http://www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm?type=NIA&Objectid=2594
- http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/56508/Join-our-Hospital-for-Heroes-Crusade