A Fighting Spirit

A Fighting Spirit
Paul Burns

On 27 August 1979, Paul Burns's life changed for ever. Travelling through Warren Point in Northern Ireland when the IRA detonated two massive bombs, he was involved in a devastating explosion - eighteen soldiers were killed that day; Paul was one of only two who survived.Newly recruited to the Parachute Regiment, Paul was performing a tour of duty in Northern Ireland when a four-tonne truck in which he was travelling was destroyed by a massive IRA bomb. Eighteen of his friends and colleagues were killed in the Warrenpoint blast – the biggest single loss of life for the British Army during the Troubles.Paul barely survived. His body was broken. His left leg was amputated below the knee. His skin was burned down to the bone. Those who saw him wondered if it might not be kinder to let him die.At just eighteen, Paul thought his life was over. But he refused to be beaten. He had made a promise to himself that he would make up for the loss of his friends' lives by living his own life to the full.And just over five years later he was a member of the elite parachute display team, The Red Devils. In 1996 he entered the record books as a member of 'Time and Tide': the first ever disabled crew to sail around the world. Today he works as a disabled extra in tv and film – amongst his accolades he can count a role in Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator.His story is a remarkable tale of one man's determination to make the most of his life against the odds.

PAUL BURNS

A FIGHTING

SPIRIT

The inspiring story of a soldier who survived the loss

of his comrades, faced adversity and overcome it all

This book is dedicated to all those who lost their lives at Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, on 27 August 1979, and to their families.

ANDREWS, Corporal Nicholas J. (2 Para)—aged 24

BARNES, Private Gary I. (2 Para)—aged 18

BEARD, Warrant Officer Walter (2 Para)—aged 31

BLAIR, Lieutenant Colonel David (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 40

BLAIR, Private Donald F. (2 Para)—aged 23

DUNN, Private Raymond (2 Para)—aged 20

ENGLAND, Private Robert N. (2 Para)—aged 23

FURSMAN, Major Peter (2 Para)—aged 35

GILES, Corporal John C. (2 Para)—aged 22

IRELAND, Lance Corporal Chris G. (2 Para)—aged 25

JONES, Private Jeffrey A. (2 Para)—aged 18

JONES, Corporal Leonard (2 Para)—aged 26

JONES, Private Robert D.V. (2 Para)—aged 18

MacLEOD, Lance Corporal Victor (Queen’s Own Highlanders)—aged 24

ROGERS, Sergeant Ian A. (2 Para)—aged 31

VANCE, Private Thomas R. (2 Para)—aged 23

WOOD, Private Anthony G. (2 Para)—aged 19

WOODS, Private Michael (2 Para)—aged 18

Contents

Cover (#ueff186ed-b75d-52dd-a3e8-95a96dd073be)

Title Page (#ue7efeb19-e218-5bd9-a93d-31c9afd36936)

Dedication (#ub229b328-38cd-5320-bdeb-16f256440046)

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter One The Terror of Toton

Chapter Two The Maroon Machine

Chapter Three Knowledge Dispels Fear

Chapter Four Warrenpoint

Chapter Five Broken

Chapter Six Moving On

Chapter Seven A Leap of Faith

Chapter Eight Red Devil

Chapter Nine The Wrong Way Round

Chapter Ten Preparing for the Race

Chapter Eleven The Lonely Sea and the Sky

Chapter Twelve The Southern Ocean

Chapter Thirteen Sea Change

Chapter Fourteen Not Forgotten

Chapter Fifteen The Silver Screen

Acknowledgements

Copyright

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