The brainchild of Lt Col Fred Hargreaves and WO2 (QMSI) Ash Clare, Battle Back aims to complement the rehabilitation work of Headley Court. 

A similar venture called ‘Wounded Warrior’, set up in 2003 by the US Forces, inspired Fred Hargreaves, Ash Clare and others to develop the British Service initiative and help the many Service personnel still serving with a disability.

The challenging programme for ‘Timmy’s Paddle’ swung into action with basic craft control training on flat water before rapidly sailing ahead to moving-water expertise. In no time at all, the trainees had grasped the skills and techniques – amid a few dunkings and much laughter - and found themselves on white water rivers, ‘shooting the rapids’ and even planning their own trips, based on their rapidly acquired confidence and level of ability, before ending up on one of Austria’s more demanding mountain torrents as a superb finale to the ‘Exped’.

Ensuring the trainees did not come away empty handed, ‘Timmy’s Paddle’ awarded Joint Service Qualifications to all the participants, with several picking up civilian awards as well.

If the views of budding kayakers Trooper Steve Shine and Sgt Stu Pearson – for whom the sport was a brand new experience - were anything to go by, ‘Timmy’s Paddle’ was a huge success. Veterans of the Adaptive Ski course, both have lost a leg on operational service, Steve in Basra last year and Stu in Helmand Province in 2006, but were enjoying every minute of the expedition.

Steve, who serves with 2RTR at Tidworth, said: “It’s hard work but a really great experience. I was a bit bothered about capsizing but handling it has been fine. The exped has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’ve now got my sights set on more skiing, with a week planned with the Paralympic Ski Development Squad in October”.

Stu, a member of 3 Para in Colchester, added: “The exercise has been run along proper adventurous training lines. I was nervous to start with about escaping from a kayak after a capsize, but we were taught the drills and my fear just evaporated. Battle Back has been brilliant.”

LCpl Jonathan Le-Galloudec, of 4 Rifles in Bulford, echoed these views. Shot by a sniper in June 07, he was told walking again would be difficult but, in his own words, “staggered back onto my feet and just got better and better”. Commenting on ‘Timmy’s Paddle’, he said: “I was scared of water but this course has got over that. My confidence has really had a boost and I am doing things I never expected to.”    

Catching his breath after a rapid descent down the River Argen, RAF Sergeant Ian Harvey, who was training as an Air Loadmaster before a serious motorbike accident, was equally enthusiastic and determined to retain his new-found kayaking skills: “I will keep developing my kayaking after this superb expedition. It’s really helping with my fitness”.

Summing up ‘Timmy’s Paddle’, Ash Clare paid tribute to the trainees: “The  best possible compliment I can pay them is that they have been just like any other course members  - a few ups and downs but they have made the trip a total success. ‘Timmy’s Paddle’ has been just what it says on the Battle Back tin:  facilitating access to elite sporting opportunities and challenging level 3 adventurous training expeditions. And for me, helping run Battle Back has been a great way to end a 25 year Army career.”

Building on its successes to date, Battle Back now has a long list of other opportunities in its sights, including water skiing, paragliding, sub-aqua and mountaineering.