The Armed Forces charity born from empathy still supporting military community today
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The SSAFA clinic in Vienna in 1949 (Picture: SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity)
ThestoryofSSAFA,amilitarycharitythathasofferedauniqueblendofsupportandadvicetoservicepersonnelandtheirfamiliesfor140years,startswithasimpleyetpowerfulletter.
AfterthedeathofMajorGeneralGordonatthesiegeofKhartouminJanuary1885,Major(laterColonelSir)JamesGildeaoftheRoyalWarwickshireRegimentwrotetoTheTimesinFebruary,urgingforfundsandvolunteerstosupportthefamiliesofArmedForcespersonnelkilledorinjuredinservice.
WhenponderingwhattypeofmemorialshouldbeerectedtohonourMajGenGordon’smemory,themajor,whobecameknownasthesoldier’sfriend,wrote:“…whatwouldbemostinaccordancewiththeviewsandwishesofthisgreatmanwouldbethatthegreaterportionofthefundssubscribedshouldbedevotedtostrengtheningtheinstitutions…establishedforthenurtureandeducationofthesonsanddaughtersofallranks,officersandmen,inbothservices”.
ColSirGildeadescribed
