SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity SSAFA is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families. We aim to be consistent in applying our community guidelines.
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SSAFA provides trusted support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army, or the Royal Air Force. We're ready to help you and your family, whenever and wherever you need us. SSAFA Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline, live chat, and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves) and ex-servicemen and women and their families, on 0800 260 6767 or online at https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/forcesline

Our Community Guidelines:

Please join us in keeping this community Page a friendly, welcoming, supportive space. Please do promote kindness, honesty, respect, support, and shared experiences and memories. Differences of opinion and debate are part of our community Page, but please make your points politely and respectfully and avoid personal attacks. Please don't make offensive or derogatory comments relating to gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, or belief. Please don't use our community to bully or harass another individual, or post images that are discriminatory, or offensive, or links to such content. Please don't use our community to promote sales of products or services that have not been approved by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. We reserve the right to hide comments that we believe to be in breach of our community guidelines. Individuals who continue to breach our community guidelines, will be banned permanently from the Page. If you have any comments or questions about how we moderate comments, please email [email protected]

Lance Corporal Michael Annor is bringing together a collection of his paintings inspired by service life for a special o...
06/10/2026

Lance Corporal Michael Annor is bringing together a collection of his paintings inspired by service life for a special one-day charity art exhibition in , with proceeds being donated to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Taking place on 6 October 2026 at the Unit Welfare Hall, 4 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, the exhibition will showcase original oil paintings and watercolours by Lance Corporal Annor, whose work draws on his passion for military life and the stories that come with service.

The event aims to inspire and nurture creativity within the regiment, help reduce the stigma and myths surrounding mental health, and raise funds to support SSAFA's work with the .

Lance Corporal Annor has been painting for almost 20 years, with oil on canvas his preferred medium. His work combines a strong understanding of the physical world with imaginative and realistic elements, creating paintings designed to take viewers beyond the ordinary.

Lance Corporal Annor says: "Art, for me, is a universal language that transcends boundaries, communicates deep emotions and connects us all to one another. By sharing my work, I aim to promote creativity, strengthen esprit de corps, and engage and inspire people about military life.

"Another important part of my art is supporting health and wellbeing initiatives within the community by raising funds through art for military charities. It is my way of giving something back to the community that has shaped my life."

SSAFA Oxfordshire, Branch Chair, Ian Talbot says: "Michael hopes the exhibition will encourage people to engage with art while opening conversations around creativity, wellbeing and the experiences of military life. We are incredibly grateful to him for using his passion and talent to support SSAFA and the Armed Forces community."

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to view and purchase a selection of LCpl Annor's military-themed artwork, with proceeds donated to SSAFA.

Resuscitation in the field. The photo shows blood supplies being drawn from an advanced Blood Bank Truck by the orderly,...
05/10/2026

Resuscitation in the field. The photo shows blood supplies being drawn from an advanced Blood Bank Truck by the orderly, Belgium, on 5 October 1944.

During , the use of blood plasma was an essential component of treating wounded soldiers. When a soldier is critically wounded, blood loss is extremely dangerous. Rather than the loss of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, the greatest concern is the loss of fluids which results in low blood pressure.

By transfusing casualties with plasma, blood volume is maintained and blood pressure remains at a normal level, preventing shock. Because the red blood cells are removed from plasma, the need to match the blood type of the donor to the recipient is unnecessary. In addition, dried plasma can be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration and transported across great distances. Medics on the battlefield simply reconstituted the dried plasma by adding water before transfusion.

The other photos show a casualty being lifted out of an ambulance at a field dressing station in Belgium.

On 6 October, a serious casualty arrives and is treated on the spot at No 20 Field Dressing Station near Oostemalle, Belgium. The medical officer, Captain Parfitt and his orderly are shown giving a plasma transfusion.

In the final photo, Roman Catholic padre, Father Condron, gives a cup of tea to a wounded soldier in the Reception of No 35 Casualty Clearing Station on 6 October 1944.

🎄 Ho! Ho! Ho! Supporting our vital work with the UK's  , SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity's   Collection 2026, including ...
05/10/2026

🎄 Ho! Ho! Ho! Supporting our vital work with the UK's , SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity's Collection 2026, including cards, decorations, stocking fillers and festive treats, is now available to browse and buy in our shop - see tagged products and link in comments.

05/10/2026

🚴‍♀️ 🇮🇹 Sharing a few photo highlights from SSAFA’s Ride to Monte Cassino at the weekend. Well done everyone! Huge thanks for all your brilliant support.

On 4 October 1943, men of The Cameronians (Scottish Ri**es) gather around a universal carrier to listen to Piper A. Mack...
04/10/2026

On 4 October 1943, men of The Cameronians (Scottish Ri**es) gather around a universal carrier to listen to Piper A. Mackay. The infantrymen were taking part in a large-scale exercise.

Battalions from The Cameronians (Scottish Ri**es) saw action in the Normandy landings in June 1944, and took part in the North West Europe Campaign in late 1944 and in 1945.

Landmarc Solutions' commitment to the UK   community has been recognised nationally after being shortlisted in three cat...
04/10/2026

Landmarc Solutions' commitment to the UK community has been recognised nationally after being shortlisted in three categories at the British Forces in Business Awards, two categories at the IWFM Impact Awards and climbing to 7th in the Top 50 Great British Employers of Veterans.

While the recognition celebrates recent achievements, it also reflects a commitment built over much longer. Since Landmarc partnered with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in 2019, the relationship has grown beyond financial support, as both organisations have built trust and found new ways to work together.

Today, that seven-year partnership includes a strong focus on SSAFA's Mentoring service, with Landmarc supporting both the programme itself and opportunities for its employees to become directly involved.

Landmarc's continued commitment has also been recognised through the Top 50 Great British Employers of Veterans rankings. Having climbed from 28th in 2024, to 23rd in 2025, the organisation has now been recognised as the 7th Great British Employer of Veterans in 2026. This reflects a sustained commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, military families and those transitioning from service to civvy street, through employment, volunteering and long-term partnerships.

Working in partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to manage the UK Defence Training Estate, Landmarc has always maintained close links with the Armed Forces community. Around a quarter of its workforce are veterans, reservists or members of military families, giving the organisation a strong understanding of the realities of service life and transition.

As the partnership with SSAFA developed, both organisations recognised opportunities to do more together.

Rather than simply providing financial support, Landmarc began investing in initiatives that would create long-term impact. The organisation funded SSAFA's mentoring conferences and training, enabling employees to become trained volunteer mentors and creating opportunities for them to directly support members of the Armed Forces community.

Today, Landmarc employees work alongside SSAFA's mentoring team, providing one-to-one support to veterans and service leavers as they navigate life beyond the military. Together, they have contributed more than 350 hours of mentoring, with many relationships continuing over several months as mentors help individuals rebuild confidence, explore opportunities and work through challenges at their own pace.

The partnership has continued to grow beyond mentoring. Landmarc has supported employability initiatives, worked alongside X-Forces Enterprise to encourage entrepreneurship within military sector and helped champion good practice through its involvement with the Armed Forces Community Awards.

More recently, the organisation has also been recognised as a Forces Friendly Employer by SSAFA, reflecting its wider commitment to supporting veterans, reservists and military families both within its workforce and beyond.

For Karen Porter, Head of Communications & Engagement and Social Value Lead at Landmarc, the partnership has always been about creating lasting impact: "Supporting the Armed Forces community is deeply embedded in our culture. Over the last seven years our partnership with SSAFA has continued to grow because we've both shared the same ambition, to make a genuine difference to the lives of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

"Seeing our own colleagues become mentors has been particularly rewarding, not only because of the support they're providing, but because of the confidence and skills they've gained themselves."

Clare Bain, Mentoring and Gurkha Services Manager at SSAFA, said: "Landmarc has never viewed partnership as simply writing a cheque. Throughout our relationship they have continually looked at how they can use their people, expertise and influence to strengthen the support available to the Armed Forces community. That willingness to work together and keep developing the partnership has made a real difference to the mentoring service and the people it supports."

The journey from corporate supporter to active delivery partner demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations commit to building relationships for the long term.

Born in Sunderland on this day in 1916, James Alfred Wight OBE FRCVS (1916-1995), better known by his pen name James Her...
03/10/2026

Born in Sunderland on this day in 1916, James Alfred Wight OBE FRCVS (1916-1995), better known by his pen name James Herriot, was a British veterinary surgeon and author of a series of books about his experiences working as a rural veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales set in the 1930s-1950s.

His first book, "If Only They Could Talk," was published in 1970. This book, along with several sequels, including 'All Creatures Great and Small', 'All Things Bright and Beautiful', and others, chronicled his adventures and the colourful characters he encountered while working in the Yorkshire Dales.

From 1933, James attended veterinary school at Glasgow Veterinary College, qualifying in 1939. Shortly after graduating, began. His veterinary license exempted him from having to enlist. However, following the German bombings of Sunderland and Glasgow, the cities where he was raised and grew up, James volunteered for the Royal Air Force in November 1942, at the age of 25.

As a pilot, he excelled and was one of the first in his flight to fly solo. He trained as a pilot, learned navigation and radio operation, and achieved the rank of leading aircraftman.

However, following delicate surgery in July 1943, James was deemed unfit to fly combat aircraft and was subsequently discharged from the RAF as a leading aircraftman in November 1943.

James never saw any combat and was able to return home to his wife, with whom he would stay together for the rest of his life. He would remain a working veterinarian until retiring in 1980 and focusing on his writing.

His most famous book, all 'Creatures Great and Small' grapples frequently with the lead-up to - he chose to set his early stories in the pre-war era rather than during actual wartime.

In the early hours of 3 October 1943, Nos. 3 and 40 (RM) Commandos and elements of the Special Raiding Squadron (SAS) la...
03/10/2026

In the early hours of 3 October 1943, Nos. 3 and 40 (RM) Commandos and elements of the Special Raiding Squadron (SAS) landed behind the German lines under cover of darkness at Termoli, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast of Italy.

Operation Devon was the codeword given to an amphibious landing by British Commandos at Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy during the Italian Campaign of .

40 Commando penetrated well into the town before the Germans were alerted, and brisk close-quarter fighting with German paratroopers from 1 Fallschirmjäger Division ensued. By 08:00 hours, the commandos had captured the town and controlled the approaches.

So complete was the surprise that the kampfgruppe commander - Major Rau - was captured in his pyjamas and German vehicles and motorcyclists still drove into a commando ambush position until noon.

German infantry counter-attacked in strength, later supported by tanks and panzergrenadiers from 16 Panzer Division, but the commandos, together with reinforcements from two brigades of the British 78th Infantry Division, held off repeated infantry and armoured counter-attacks until 6 October. By noon on the 6th, they had linked up with the British Eighth Army, and the enemy was in full retreat.

Members of 2 SAS are pictured here on parade on 11 October 1943 for an inspection by General Montgomery, following their successful participation in the capture, behind enemy lines, of the port of Termoli.

On the left is Major E. Scratchley DSO, MC, commanding the SAS detachment. On the right is Captain Roy Farran holding a German Schmeisser sub-machine gun.

03/10/2026

After a day in Naples, our Ride to Monte Cassino cyclists, including SSAFA’s Head of Trustees, Sir Simon Bolllom, headed out on their adventure yesterday. Good luck everyone!

02/10/2026

"Hi, this is Ellen from the SSAFA Short Breaks service. Thank you for choosing to leave a gift in your will. It is with your incredible support that we're able to help Armed Forces families for many years to come." See link in comments to learn more about leaving a gift in your will to SSAFA.

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