Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier (35 page)
Read Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier Online
Authors: James Wharton
I’m grateful to have some of the most incredible friends in the world and, truthfully, one does learn who one’s friends are in times of need; those people who have been there are friends of mine for life. You know who you are and I love you.
Writing a book about your life by the time you’re twenty-seven is admittedly unusual: a year ago I might have been of the
opinion that my most exciting years were already past and that, for me, an autobiography in my mid-twenties was appropriate. Today I’m optimistic that maybe, just maybe, the best is yet to come. I’m currently learning to speak French.
Thank you for reading this book.
My granddad, James Crumlin, in 1938. He was seventeen years old and serving in the Royal Navy.
With my dad, Ronnie, on a snow-covered Christmas morning in Gwersyllt, 1995.
Mum and I on our annual holiday to Butlins, Pwllheli, 1996. Not sure about the jumpers.
Playing the side drum with the 4
th
Cadet Battalion, Corps of Drums in Wrexham town centre. I’m on the left-hand side, third from the front.
Aged sixteen, on my second day in the army, September 2003. Alongside me are Junior Soldiers Reucker and Perryman; Reucker would go on to receive the Military Cross.
Basic training: boys will be boys!
4 Section, 6 Platoon in 2004. Back row: Shickle, Warren, Cpl Hayhurst (Section Commander), Rutter and McDonald. Front row: Abraham, Vella, Wharton and Williams.
Liza, me, Mum, Paul and Nan at my passing out, 13 August 2004.
Drill ride with the boys at Hyde Park barracks, October 2004. From left: Smith, Elliot, Hendy, Whitehead, Wharton, Warren, Perryman, Evans, Johnstone, Reid, McAllen, Tate and Ibbetson.
Kit ride, March 2005. I’d ‘come out’ to the boys two days before this photo was taken.
Nan tries on the kit for size at my passing-out parade, St Patrick’s Day 2005. There would never have been a more loyal guard!
The one that got away. Steven was the first guy to ever take a real interest in me.
Regimental barbecue at Hyde Park barracks, spring 2006. The regiment often enjoyed moments of relaxation during the preparations for state ceremonies.
