2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment - British SAS Veteran

[@exmoorfarmer4880]

What a quiet, measured, and very sincere individual.

[@edwardodonnell6857]

Great these veterans have a platform to speak these lads have given risked everything defending our rights.

[@forwardprogressonly]

Genuine Warrior - great interview ben

[@ShukokaiStu]

Wow Ben, at 29:20 you mentioned "The Church" up in London. Man, talk about brining back great memories! We went there in 96 when we were at Earls Court for the Royal Tournament. I was with Royal Navy's, Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Crew at the time. We all absolutely loved The Church. What a decent guy you are. Very Humble and down to earth. 👍🏻

[@richarddepledge960]

Good Podcast. Interesting insight. When he told story re missing target it reminded me of Ross Kemp on one of his TV shows after he had done the " Ultimate Force series". He was deploying embeded with unit to Afghan so they let him on range. All on camera he clearly could not hit a barn door! When Range control called out scores bloke said "Ross Kemp"" 3" or something then follwed it by" SAS my Arse". He went as red as a house brick with embarrasment.

[@lennieboy60]

Great comment about the reserves. I did 8 years - Royal Signals. Best time ever.

[@pauljermyn5909]

What a different interview to the normal sas/sbs ones, it's a "normal" persons journey to sf, i think that brings home what he achieved a bit more

[@hupra72]

I served with Ben in 2 PARA back in the day. He's a cracking guy and is doing great work with HR4K.

[@petermanning1864]

Top bloke.

[@user-nu6bc2gv5m]

I was at depot in aldershot in 84 493 platoon what a fucking experience it fucked me up good and proper finally got medical discharge wasnt for me but for those who made a career out of it good on ya👍👍👍👍

[@foxbyday4300]

What a legend this guy is - Fair play to him

[@daz6637]

It wasn’t Glasgow (MCM Division) that decided on 16 AA Bde, it was government/Mod. I was posted to 24 Airmobile Bde in April from Germany after 2 tours there to be told that we would be Air Assault as of September 99. To say I was fucking displeased was an understatement! I was at Goojerat in Colchester..

[@RossNaylor-o2h]

I was actually based in Aldershot when the paras turned up they didn't half turn the town upside down 😂 i recall pubs were trying to stop serving glass pints as they got used more as a weapon rather than to drink out of i used to take a few ghurkas with me when I was feeling like a war and go into the Pegasus which is the paras pub in Aldershot and have a pint they hated any other unit in there unless you could pretty much prove you were worthy of being in there it took a few battles but i ended up quite friendly with a few of them i miss that banter and feel of being in a massive brotherhood my younger brother was actually reme around the time ben was at the reme depot he was a lance corporal pretty fast beat me to it aswell sadly he died a few years ago he drowned on his best mates stag do of all places really really sad how it all ended for a brother who was going to be im sure a highly ranked n.c.o i miss him everyday just like i miss my army family 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@A.Mardle]

" i used to take a few ghurkas with me when I was feeling like a war and go into the Pegasus which is the paras pub in Aldershot and have a pint " No you didn't.

[@RossNaylor-o2h]

@@A.Mardle I think I know what I did better than you do

[@jamesholland1006]

Sorry for your loss mate

[@RossNaylor-o2h]

@@Jay-gr9ij thanks brother hope you and your family are all well take care bro

[@RossNaylor-o2h]

@@jamesholland1006 thanks bro it means a lot never leave your loved ones without letting them know you love them I've lost too many people close to me after an argument and not ever had that chance to make it up with them it kills you inside so my advice a simple I love you and trying not to leave with an argument makes all the difference take care bro thanks again

[@normancameron6165]

I remember 1964 the paras in Aldershot who beat them up the catering corps the cooks they were all jocks and geordies

[@WyeExplorer]

Some layers to his army career so far. Good experience. I was in Junior Para in 1984-Browning Barracks. It was mental then. P Co didn't go well after Juniors - I was expected to pass. An Interesting story. I'm speaking from Hereford in fact. My father Terry Jickells was A Sq for 22 years. So, I know where Ben's heading - it was my dream and my twins dream once. Roll on part 2. Enjoyed that and his company. Peace. Mark

[@garymitchell5899]

Classic Walt

[@WyeExplorer]

@@garymitchell5899 Who is a classic Walt? I spoke of a dream mate and not actually being a part of the SAS-that was my father. If you wanna know more just google Terry Jickells-SAS. You don't listen. For this reason I think you're a dick...d.

[@WyeExplorer]

​@@garymitchell5899 Who's a classic Walt? I spoke of a dream mate and not being a part of the SAS-that was my father Terry Jickells. If you wanna know more just google his name Terry Jickells/SAS. You don't listen-gary is it? For this reason you're not worth much more of my time.

[@shaundavenport621]

He,s no Walt you pratt he,s well known and has done vids showing everyone the old ranges down in Hereford and has always made it abundantly clear that his Father was A Squadron 22 not himself. Its a shame that you're not a Walt when it comes down to Prattery but you are the real deal!!

[@WyeExplorer]

@@garymitchell5899 I missed this. No, mate I've made it all clear.

[@grahamconquer8117]

Fiscch went to reme we met made friends and i ended up joining parachute regiment c, we met and went hicking up during the three. Peaks challenge he put a dress on in at top of ben nevis , he also painted his room depo colors

[@Michael-fj5sh]

This bloke sounds intelligent and ordinary, I wouldn’t believe he was in the army let alone special forces.

[@danieljameshustler]

Class podcast pal! Loved Bens story and his honesty! #Legend

[@steveh5005]

Bullies. Always catch up with them eventually. Aldershot was always the same. Great Pod cast and sincere.

[@andyfisher1911]

Sorry Ben there is a brotherhood amongst us Tankies, you might have worn a maroon lid but l wore a black one!

[@kmac8854]

Thats why you’re called a crap hat 😂

[@andrewnorris98]

Crap hat

[@SteveGraham-wb2zs]

Brilliant pod cast can’t wait for episode 2

[@MilitaryVeteransPodcast]

🫡 1700hrs 👍

[@ruperttristanblythe7512]

Agreed

[@DaDaW9762]

I so so so wish I had done the TA(Reserves) as well instead of the regular army.. I wish id joined 4PARA and then attempted 23SAS selection.. Instead I was in a regular infantry Battalion for 14 years and because I couldn't I couldn't re-adjust the idea of civilian life, the moment I handed in my ID card, I panicked completely and went straight to Ukraine and joined the 2nd Battalion of the International Legion of Ukraine, and had a hellish time in Donetsk.. If I'd joined the reserves I'd never have felt the need to completely overreact and panic.

[@ncrongendov733]

I have a mate who was in The something Guards and he tells me the Paras were rumoured to have kept a dwarf/little person in their ceiling space in Aldershot. Can’t be true?!

[@Para-rt9uk]

There was also the 'Black Widow' in Belfast but thats another story.:-)

[@kevinknowles973]

Cool guy would love to be his mate

[@MilitaryVeteransPodcast]

Take a trip to HR4K, I'm sure he'll get you a coffee...

[@davidyates6189]

Wow Para Depot sounded brutal in the 90s. I assume that stuff doesn’t go on still - too many pensions to lose and potential lawsuits.

I went through in 2012 and there were certain things that you knew if you spoke outside about it shit would go down

[@davidyates6189]

Haha oh dear - not something to be shared with Ruperts or Civpop?

@@davidyates6189 exactly that bud. If I remember correctly 3 screws went to court and sent down for it.

[@davidyates6189]

Either way you’re a hard fucker to make it in to the Maroon Machine. Respect.

[@ETB9090]

I remember a couple of 3 Para full screws getting jailed for filling in recruits in Depot in 91 when it was in Aldershot, one from our platoon another from one of the others, it’s not for the faint hearted 😂

[@WeirdoowithABeardoo]

Sounds a decent bloke

[@simonrogersparachuteregime3022]

I rember Ben telling think it was the defense secretary in afghanistan that he had his kevlar helmet on the wrong way round 😅while climbing on the PF jackel 😅

[@apexuassolutions]

You wasn't on the Herrick 08 Tour nor PF Dodge @simonrogersparachuteregiment.

[@scottmarcelsanca9860]

Crap hats 😅 hele barracks..... joe.....remember them days

[@johnhealy5558]

So Paras go first followed by Marines, Well they didnt want you!.

[@georgedykes1033]

Falklands say no more cabbage,

[@johnhealy5558]

@@georgedykes1033 Well done and Thank you,I was wondering how long it would take.

[@John-n9p4m]

Yawn

[@Darkhorse1978-c6w]

I was the youngest to pass P company and went to 1 para in 1995 and I left in 1998 after the "exodus" . if you were in around the same time you know what caused the exodus lots of guys left and joined other regiments or got out like myself , some rejoined other regiments. they asked me if i wanted to go to tanks and i said no your ok its probably just as bad there? I've been in maximum security prison since and it wasn't all that bad compared to Barack life in Aldershot. edit , to be historically correct as @sapper3252 pointed out on another thread i was the youngest to get into "adult Bn" as Junior parachute company was disbanded in 1993

[@dirkdiggler3605]

Couldn’t pass the Commando course, and “Scruff “wouldn’t have accepted him in the Hamworthy Rowing club,its a really hard club to get in 👍🏻🫡⚓️those that know