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Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Title Page
  5. Intoroduction
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EITHT
  14. NINE
  15. TEN
  16. ELEVEN
  17. TWELVE
  18. THIRTEEN
  19. FOURTEEN
  20. FIFTEEN
  21. SIXTEEN
  22. SEVENTEEN
  23. EIGHTEEN
  24. NINETEEN
  25. TWENTY
  26. TWENTY-ONE
  27. TWENTY-TWO
  28. TWENTY-THREE
  29. TWENTY-FOUR
  30. TWENTY-FIVE
  31. TWENTY-SIX
  32. TWENTY-SEVEN
  33. TWENTY-EIGHT
  34. TWENTY-NINE
  35. THIRTY
  36. THIRTY-ONE
  37. THIRTY-TWO
  38. THIRTY-THREE
  39. THIRTY-FOUR
  40. THIRTY-FIVE
  41. THIRTY-SIX
  42. THIRTY-SEVEN
  43. THIRTY-EIGHT
  44. THIRTY-NINE
  45. FORTY
  46. FORTY-ONE
  47. FORTY-TWO
  48. FORTY-THREE
  49. FORTY-FOUR
  50. FORTY-FIVE
  51. FORTY-SIX
  52. FORTY-SEVEN
  53. FORTY-EIGHT
  54. FORTY-NINE
  55. FIFTY
  56. FIFTY-ONE
  57. FIFTY-TWO
  58. FIFTY-THREE
  59. FIFTY-FOUR
  60. FIFTY-FIVE
  61. FIFTY-SIX
  62. FIFTY-SEVEN
  63. FIFTY-EIGHT
  64. FIFTY-NINE
  65. SIXTY
  66. SIXTY-ONE
  67. SIXTY-TWO
  68. SIXTY-THREE
  69. SIXTY-FOUR
  70. SIXTY-FIVE
  71. SIXTY-SIX
  72. SIXTY-SEVEN
  73. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  74. CLIMATE EMERGENCY
  75. Copyright

‘Right lads, we’re gonna make a start.’ A man steps to the centre of the room and a hush descends immediately. He’s wearing all black, but stands out a mile. From the ripped ends of his black T-shirt, full-length sleeve tattoos of skulls and hammers run down to his wrists. Creeping above the line of his collar towards his left ear, a union flag. On the other side, a pair of crossed hammers.

As if responding to some unspoken cue, the whole room stands at once. It takes me a few seconds to realise I should stand up too. Everyone’s got their hands across their chests, like they’re taking some kind of oath.

The man at the front of the room barks a few words, then everyone replies together. I don’t know what they’re saying, or what I should say, but I stand there with my hand on my chest and try to mutter something. There’s a little bit that I do recognise: the 14 words from the end of the videos. I think I get about half of it right.

Everyone sits down again, the energy in the room doubled in intensity.

‘As you know,’ the man at the front continues, ‘Carl’s got some stuff to feed back on the last few national meetings in London. Then he’s got some news about what’s coming up here soon.’

There are a few cheers and whoops, shouts of ‘Go on, Carl!’ which the frontman silences with a smile. He continues, ‘Once again gentlemen, it’s very good to see so many soldiers here this evening. It’s good to know that there are still good people in this town who love their country and are willing to protect it.’ His eyes flick to me at that moment, finding me in a heartbeat. Like he knew I was here. ‘For our children. And now, Carl.’

Carl steps up. He also bears a sleeve of inked hammers, skulls and flags. I didn’t notice them under his shirt last week, and they must be recent as they weren’t in the article photograph either. ‘Before I start, I’d like to welcome a new soldier to the ranks. Someone we’ve been expecting. Gents, this is Josh.’

I freeze as all the eyes in the room are on me in a second. Just able to return their gazes for a second each, I see many other tattoos of crossed hammers, many blue-inked knuckles wrapped around beer glasses as Carl continues.

‘Josh’s story is known to most of you, and it’s with pleasure that I welcome him here. He’s made a step towards doing something about what happened to him. About what’s been taken from him. And you know what he’s been through, so make him feel welcome. We’re going to help you. We’re all here for you, alright Josh?’