For the troops

After two hours driving in the Sedburgh Wolf, one of four vehicles the Eastern unit of Siobhan’s Trust have in the field, we arrive at the entrance to a military training base. Our passports are checked and we are asked to turn off location services on our phones. We are escorted for a few hundred meters off-road to a junction of tracks where we set up a corral of pizza vans ready to serve today's 'customers'.

The sound of distant music attracts our attention and with everything set up we are invited to witness one of the most surreal and stirring events of my life. In a natural amphitheatre clearing 600 battle dressed troops are sitting in the sunshine listening to the Ukrainian indie band Ondy v Kanoe. The beautiful voice of Iryna Shvaidakh evoking reminders of Vera Lynn singing to British troops in WW2. 

Concert over the troops formed and orderly queue as we served them pizzas and hot drinks. Despite the smiles and thanks the mood of the men seemed subdued many of them eating their pizza lost in thought of the days to come. For all of us volunteers it felt very special, our chance to show the men and women about to join the front line our support.