Page 39 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

The second day of my first operational tour as a Field Mental Health Nurse, UK Med Gp Field Hospital, Brady Lines, Contingency Operating Base (COB), began with a potentially life threatening ‘wake- up call’. At 0530, the ablutions in my tented accommodation were hit by an incoming mortar round during the first of what was eight IDF attacks that day. I had no idea what was going on; the round had landed before the eerie warble of the IDF attack alarms had sounded. Several minutes later the disturbed dust was throughout our part of the tent and we were directed to go outside. At 1215 the same day the Welfare Department within the hospital was blown up during another IDF attack. No-one had been physically hurt on either occasion.
The military campaign in Iraq had begun in early March 2003. The mission of the MNF-I (26 nations including the UK) was, together with the Iraqi Government, to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq.
On OP TELIC 10, the British contingent of 5800 troops, airmen and navy personnel were situated in Southern Iraq in two places: Basra Palace and at the Airport, also known as the Contingency Operating Base (or COB). These included 1 Mech Brigade, and a large contingent from 1 Sqn RAF Regiment.
The Field Mental Health Team consisted of Flight Lieutenant Sol Masawi and myself. We were visited by Consultant Psychiatrist Lieutenant Colonel Peter McAllister and Captain Karen Mason during the tour. Demand for our services was great, and we worked hard. Clinically, we saw both UK military personnel and DIF detainees. Due to the situational threat, and later OP SINBAD (the extraction of British Troops from Basra Palace), we were restricted to the COB for the majority of the tour. Fifty seven patients presented to the FMHT during OP TELIC 10B alone, and we completed approximately 90 reviews between ourselves. Naturally, about 25% of the 57 new patients we saw during that tour related to acute stress reactions. One of my first psychiatric casualties was a young soldier within UK Medical Group who had been using the
ablutions at that the time it was hit. I remember patients who believed that they were being ‘chased’ by incoming IDF, others who had witnessed death and injury, and many who were simply exhausted. Perhaps surprisingly, a quarter of patients were assessed as having ‘no psychiatric disorder’.
We took referrals from GDMOs, RAP RMOs and the field hospital wards. We undertook health promotion activities for the SIB, fire crew, IRT/ BLM, bomb disposal, ITU/ ED and body handling team. In addition, we provided stress management presentations to the SNCO CLM and JOLP courses that were run in theatre, guard duty, and presented many ROSI and POSM briefs. In total we presented to a total 2100 personnel in operational theatre. Consequently, the working day often started with PT at 0530 in the morning and ended at 2100 or 2200 in the office. Most of operational theatre operated with those working hours, but I saw that some regularly worked harder and for longer.
The operational tempo was high and costly. 4 Rifles lost 11 men and 43 others were affected by serious injuries. 276 patients were evacuated by aero-med in OP TELIC 10B alone, making it the busiest year so far for the British military aero-medical evacuation team. During OP TELIC 10, there were 22 British fatalities. We aeromed only three patients on psychiatric grounds during OP TELIC 10B. We had worked the ‘proximity immediacy expectancy (PIE) principle to its limits.
By the end of my deployment, I had learned to love the apparent safety of my breeze-block ‘coffin’ which surrounding my (and every) individual bed-space; each of us sleeping with our SA80 at our sides. I had grown in knowledge and confidence as an Army Mental Health Nurse. I had learned much about acute stress reactions; about the short-term psychological impact of witnessing death and injury; and a lot about human resilience. I came back from that tour extremely fit, (albeit short-lived on return to winter in Catterick). Inevitably, by the end of the tour I had had some unpleasant experiences too. In hindsight, there were some decisions I made that might be different should I make them now; but that does not mean that there
would have been a better outcome. Like the vast majority out there, we worked to the best of our ability given the time, knowledge and experience we had at that time. Deployment on OP TELIC 10 was memorable and worthwhile, and most definitely the part of my career of which I am most proud.
Staff Sergeant Marie Cashon DCMH Donnington
The Gazette QARANC Association 37
Memories of OP TELIC 10B August October 2007
Major Alex
Saunders
Major Alex Saunders has stepped down as an Association Trustee on completion of his tenure. He represented the Reserves on the Board of Trustees and also acted as web manager for the Association website. Colonel John Quinn, Chair of the Board of Trustees, presented him with a framed print of the ‘Mametz’ painting that currently hangs in the main reception hall of Robertson House.
Very many thanks to Alex for his loyal service to the Board and for his hard work as web manager. Our congratulations also on his recent promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
Colonel John Quinn presenting a print of the Mametz painting to Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Alex Saunders at a recent meeting in Robertson House