CHRIS THRALL

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1 Para In Iraq | Steve Mathews | SFSG | #69

Posted on 1 March 202114 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

Steve Mathews fought with 1 Para in Iraq and went on to serve with the Special Forces Support Group. We learn from Steve all about the airborne brigade and it’s parachute course, plus his experience working alongside our Special Air Service and Special Boat Service.

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1 Para In Iraq | Steve Mathews | SFSG

Steve Mathews fought with 1 Para in Iraq and went on to serve with the Special Forces Support Group. Steve explains all about the airborne brigade, the death of the military policeman at at Majar al-Kabir, how 1 Para almost jumped into battle, how the parachute course is run and his current work as a civilian security contractor in Iraq. We discuss the parachute course at Brize Norton including the skyvan and the old balloon jump, and what it like to work alongside the Special Air Force (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) and training, tactics and weapons.

Transcript from ‘1 Para In Iraq | Steve Mathews | SFSG’ podcast

Chris and Steve

C – Steve how are you brother?

S – I’m good thank you how are you?

C – I’m very well mate, thank you for asking. You’re in Iraq as we speak?

S – Yeah, currently on lockdown in Baghdad, Iraq yeah.

C – What position are you holding in there?

S – I’m basically working for a private security company. Part of the regional management team. So we basically oversee all the projects in our region and provide support for those projects.

C – If we go back to the beginning, it was 1 Para you were in?

S – Yeah, so I left school in the year 2000, always wanted to join the military, I had three other family members in the parachute regiment at the time, so my allegiance was to the parachute regiment. I was too young to join as an adult entry, so my only option was to go to the army foundation college in Harrogate…

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US Navy SEAL Team 6 Operator BUDS & Combat | #74

Posted on 1 March 202114 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

US Navy SEAL Team 6 Operator breaks down BUDS & Combat. This podcast features Aaron Howard chatting with Chris Thrall, regarding his career and injury fighting in Afghanistan.

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US Navy SEAL Team 6 Operator BUDS & Combat

Ever wondered what it must be like to train and fight with SEAL Team 6? What BUDS and Hell Week must be like? In these podcast CLIPS, Former US Navy SEAL Aaron Howard breaks down SEAL Team Six’s combat and and behind the scenes training. Aaron explains how he was severely injured in Afghanistan but faces his toughest battle yet.

Transcript snippet from ‘US Navy SEAL Team 6 Operator BUDS & Combat’ podcast

Chris and Aaron

C – Aaron, how are you brother?

A – I’m good how are you?

C – Yeah, really well thank you? Which part of the States are you in?

A – I’m up in Virginia on the Eastern shore.

C – Okay, Norfolk is in Virginia right?

A – It’s about a three hour drive South from D.C.

C – Yeah I was in Virginia when I was in the marines I was on an aircraft carrier for a year, and we stopped in Virginia and we hired a car and drove up to Washington. That was a hell of a trip.

A – I bet, especially on the shoot up.

C – So Aaron, I think I should point out you’re are the first Navy Seal we’ve had on the show. We’ve heard a lot of SAS and some SBS guys from this side of the pond, but from the Atlantic side of America you’re the first Navy Seal. So thank you and congratulations…

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Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent Into Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland

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UK Psychological Operations Group | Psyops #147

Posted on 27 February 202114 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

Tim Heale is a former British Army C/Sgt, who was deployed on operations around the world, whilst working with 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group.

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UK Psychological Operations Group | Psyops

Former British Army C/Sgt Tim Heale has also has deployed on operations in Germany, N Ireland, Berlin, Norway, Wales, Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. In this podcast we talk about his fascinating work with 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group.

Transcript from the ’15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group’ podcast

Chris and Tim

C – I was going to say how are you Tim, and now I’m going to say how are you colours?

T – I’m great thanks.

C – Is that the same in the army, we call our colour sergeants, colours and that’s an acceptable thing to call them.

T – No, in the army it’s called colour, without the letter ‘s’ on the end. It’s quite funny because I worked with the marines quite a bit. I did three deployments with three commando brigade and they were all calling me colours. When I moved into London, they all called me Sir. Then I had an opportunity to go back and work with my regiment and they were calling me colour, so it was quite bizarre the way I was being treated with the different regiments.

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Skydiving Into The Sea With Sharks | Royal Marines | #90

Posted on 18 February 202114 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

Skydiving Into The Sea With Sharks, features James Glancy, a passionate wildlife conservationist, tv presenter and keen adventure sportsman. James was an Officer in the elite British Royal Marines and here he talks with Chris Thrall about his career, hosting Discovery Channel’s ‘Shark Week’ and presenting ‘Planet SOS’.

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Skydiving Into The Sea With Sharks | Royal Marines

James Glancy is a passionate wildlife conservationist and keen adventure sportsman. James is a host on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and presents ‘Planet SOS,’ the environmental wildlife show on the Mail Plus. He has spent his life outdoors in wild and hostile places. As a child, James was taught to dive and swim with sharks by a former US Navy Seal who inspired him to join the British military. Over a 10 year military career, James was an Officer in the elite British Royal Marines. He deployed on multiple tours around the world, including three combat tours of Afghanistan. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) for leadership and bravery on the frontline. A keen military historian, James read Modern History at the University of Oxford, where he also Captained the Blues Varsity Boxing team. James is also a co-founder of international risk consultancy, AnotherDay. Since leaving the armed forces, James has returned to his childhood passion for wildlife and shark diving. He is now a Director of a conservation charity, Veterans 4 Wildlife, where he focuses on the preservation of African wildlife and combating the global trade in shark fins. James is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Transcript snippet from ‘Skydiving Into The Sea With Sharks | Royal Marines’ podcast

C – James, how are you Sir?

J – Good thanks Sir, always good to speak to a fellow bootneck, and finding out another one of us has made it onto the online and media industry.

C – A meagre foray I think you could say but it’s all exciting stuff. I have to say I’m really honoured James, I really am, for so many reasons, least of which is the work you’re doing to protect wildlife. I was just watching one of your videos there with the lions. I’ve lived in China and the odds are stacked against these beautiful creatures…

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Iranian Embassy Siege | Robin Horsfall | #93

Posted on 17 February 202115 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

Iranian Embassy Siege, features Robin Horsfall, who is a legend amongst the world of military names. Also known as, ‘The wise old paratrooper’, Robin was part of the famous Iranian Embassy seige and The Falkands war. He is also now an accomplished writer and poet.

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Iranian Embassy Siege | Robin Horsfall

Robin Horsfall is ‘The Wise Old Paratrooper.’ He served with the Parachute Regiment and 22 Special Air Service (SAS) from 1972 to 1984. He took part in several famous missions including the SAS Embassy Siege in London on May 5th 1980, later made into the film, ‘6 Days’ as advised on by Rusty Firmin – and an ‘insane’ mission into Argentina in 1982. These are just some of his many exploits.

An acclaimed martial artist, in recent years he started placing philosophical maxims on social media and became known as ‘The Wise Old Paratrooper.’ Robin is a spokesperson for Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans.

Transcript snippet from podcast

Chris and Robin

C – Robin, how are you Sir?

R – Yeah I’m good, as well as can be expected under the circumstances I think, but I’m still here.

C – Yes, strange times, but you’re no stranger to them.

R – No, no. I’m sixty three now, but have managed to pack a lot into those sixty three years. Depends where you wanna go with it really.

C – Well, I would say a lot of wisdom comes from your sixty three, I was reading some of your paratrooper books, sorry the wise old paratrooper.

R – Yes, yes I did a little trilogy when I broke my neck so I couldn’t carry on teaching Karate, so I went off to Surrey University while my neck healed as an undergraduate at the age of 56, graduated at 59 in English literature with creative writing. I could have stayed on but I just wanted to write…

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The Untold Story Of 45 Commando | #96

Posted on 16 February 202115 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

The Untold Story Of 45 Commando, features Major Andy Shaw who served in The Royal Marines. He won The King’s Badgeman in 98 troop, as the best young officer and was awarded a General Officer Commanding’s Commendation for his field work in Northern Ireland.

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The Untold Story Of 45 Commando

Andy served both in the ranks and as an officer from 1976 to 1996 in the Royal Marines. He passed out of training as the top recruit (King’s Badgeman, 98 Troop) and as the best Young Officer (Royal Marines Sword of Honour Young Officer Batch May 80) and was awarded a General Officer Commanding’s Commendation for his field work in Northern Ireland (40 Commando Royal Marines). At the height of the ground fighting in the 1982 Falklands islands conflict, he was a rifle troop commander in charge of 32 men, and was tasked with operating independently from his unit, 45 Commando Royal Marines, in no man’s land. During this phase, whilst conducting a fighting patrol to destroy some of the enemy’s fire support systems, he ambushed what he thought was an enemy force killing four men. It transpired that it was a friendly patrol from his own unit.

This single event, coupled with five tours in Northern Ireland, changed his perception of himself and gradually life in general, and was the beginning of a long slide towards ultimate despair, and eventually contemplation of suicide. From 1982 until 1996 he managed to continue functioning in various command capacities within the Royal Marines, but at the same time was aware of a growing split between the rational external face and the lurking internal horror that was slowly engulfing his entire persona.

Eventually his marriage collapsed and the loss of his family, two daughters, and all possessions, triggered off the reactions that are now known to be classical symptoms of PTSD. In 1989 the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was unknown to Andy and by 1996 he finally accepted that he had to leave the Corps and country he loved in order to deal with this overwhelming problem. He bought an old classic yacht and with his new wife, Cheralie, sailed off into the North Atlantic to re-discover himself.

In the late summer of 1997 they discovered the beautiful sub-tropical Balearic island of Formentera and dropped anchor. It was here that Andy began the process of self-healing. On the 6th of September 2012, by invitation of the Commanding Officer, who was an old friend, Andy gave a two hour presentation to 45 Commando Royal Marines on his war and its effects. Not only did he manage this with no emotional fall-out, but that night he found himself listening to a number of serving officers who wanted to talk about their experiences and resultant emotional problems. Andy realised that this was the end of his 30-year battle with PTSD; and the beginning of a new career in mentoring those who are suffering today. Thus The Mountain Way was born.

Transcript snippet from ‘The Untold Story Of 45 Commando’ podcast

Chris and Andy

C – Andy, how are you brother?

A – Very pleasantly warm thank you very much!

C – Yes, in Ibiza.

A – Yes my home, I don’t like to say that, but I do say it too often. I suppose it could be called showing off but I’m not a party animal. You know I’ve only ever been in one of these nightclubs once and that was to blow up 5000 balloons. I was working for 10 Euros an hour then!

C – Yeah, they certainly have got some thumping nightclubs over there from what I remember, but from what I remember from my one trip to the Island is they’re blooming expensive.

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British Bobsleigh Pilot | Adam Baird | Royal Marines | #103

Posted on 15 February 202117 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

British Bobsleigh Pilot, features Adam Baird, a former Royal Marines Commando who became an expert in the world of Bobsleigh and powerlifting.

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British Bobsleigh Pilot | Adam Baird

Adam (Adz) Baird joined the GB Bobsleigh set up as a pilot ahead of the 2019/20 sliding season. He made his GB debut in Winterberg on the Europa Cup circuit in December 2019, when he finished 24th alongside Lawrence Taylor. A serving member of the Royal Marines for 12 years, he began his bobsleigh career competing for the Marines and the Royal Navy in 2017. Adz comes from an active sporting background, having competed at national level in powerlifting, for which he has a 247.5kg deadlift personal best in the 82.5kg category as well as rugby union and rugby 7’s for the Royal Marines with rugby league for the Royal Marines and Royal Navy teams. His time in the military has seen multiple deployments around the globe, including a tour of Afghanistan in 2010.

Transcript snippet from ‘British Bobsleigh Pilot | Adam Baird’ podcast

Chris and Adam

C – Adam how are you brother?

A – Yeah very well Chris thank you, how are you?

C – Yeah I’m firing mate, and I’m really excited for this chat. People will get sick of me saying this, but I started doing this podcast to chat to fascinating people who do stuff that I would like to do! Or stuff that I have done. Funny enough, you might not believe this but I have done the bobsled.

A – Have you really?

C – Yeah, I say it tongue in cheek because I did the tourist taxi bob, but it was still the full on experience.

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Forty Nights: My Escape from Crystal Meth Hell

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Simon Weston CBE Falklands War | #108

Posted on 14 February 202118 May 2021 by Chris Thrall

Simon Weston CBE is a veteran of the British Army who is known for his charity work and recovery from severe burn injuries suffered during the Falklands War.

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Simon Weston CBE Falklands War

Simon Weston CBE is a veteran of the British Army who is known for his charity work and recovery from severe burn injuries suffered during the Falklands War. On 8 June 1982 he was boarded with other members of his regiment on RFA Sir Galahad in Port Pleasant near Fitzroy, just off the Falkland Islands. The ship was hit and set on fire by the Argentine Skyhawk fighters during the Bluff Cove Air Attacks. His ship was carrying a huge amount of ordinance and thousands of gallons of diesel and petrol. Out of his platoon of 30 men, 22 lost their lives. The Welsh Guards lost a total of 48 men and 97 wounded aboard the Sir Galahad. Simon survived with 46% burns, in which his face was barely recognisable.

Transcript snippet from ‘Simon Weston CBE Falklands War’ podcast

Chris and Simon

C – Simon, how are you brother?

S – I’m ok, a bit stressed with some home improvements we’re having done. Other than that I’m tickety boo. I’ve got a lot of new projects waiting to start, but this damn virus is making everything so slow. It is what it is.

C – Do you have enough time for your family with all your commitments, because you are a very busy man.

S – Well it certainly was before the Covid thing. The thing is when I’m not working I’m spending time with my family and perhaps because people see me do a lot of work they think that’s all I do.

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Chris’s bestselling memoirs

Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent Into Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2YoeaPx

Forty Nights: My Escape from Crystal Meth Hell

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2AYH0hn

How to Write a Memoir

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Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gePYEMm

Podcast on iTunes etc