Always tear up when he goes on about phoning his wife and when he goes on about suicide and how his dog saved him etc , such a brave man who’s dealt with alot 🇬🇧 proud of him.
Craig is a legend not only on the battlefield but his work bringing awareness to PTSD. If you want to know more about this amazing guy I implore you to read his book it is excellent. Top bloke right there!
@@MikeTheBike58 The longest kill: the story of Maverick 41, One of the World's Greatest Snipers by Craig Harrison. It's a great read. I couldn't put it down. It's unusual for me to be frozen on the spot by a book but this one did that for me. What leaves a lasting impression even more than the horrors of the Balkan war and the injuries sustained in Afghanistan by comrades is the appalling abandonment of our servicemen in need by 'Ŵelfare' and the deeply disturbing effects of severe PTSD on men who have been lions in battle.
Craig`s shot was made with a L115A3 .338 lapua magnum aka the Arctic Warfare Magnum, it is a bolt action rifle. For that follow up shot to hit, Craig had to action the bolt aim and fire in under 8 seconds. An incredible feat of marksmanship under any conditions, let alone for a man who was tired after an extended time in position and the stress of defending troops in active contact. Bloody impressive. While Craig has battled depression and PTSD from his time at war following a distinguished 24 year career he remains one of our best. His autobiography The Longest Kill is well worth a read for anyone interested in the life and role of the sniper.
Also worth mentioning that this rifle has as standard a 5 round box mag - Craig said it took him 9 rounds so he also had to change magazines halfway through as well as loading each round individually since it is bolt action. I cannot even begin to imagine the skill level required. Absolutely incredible.
Don't fight with the British, you will loose. Don't bet with the British you will loose. Don't try to out drink the British,. you will loose. Told this when we were with the British in 2005, Helmand profince. By our Major, TR Hewson
We did lose, the best armies in the world, for 20 years and achieved nothing. That lesson was learned in 1842, the soldiers of the 19th century would think what was done in the past 20 years was insanity.
@@montycasper4300 because in the past we would of just massacred anyone who stood in our way entire villages and cities would be erased because that is the only way to win against these types of insurgencies and that is the reason the mongals were so successful they had no problem with carrying out massacres so If your saying we should be asha for not acting like that then fair enough next time we are in a similar situation we should just carpet bomb any village that even slightly supports the enemy and execute any family found to have enemy ties is that what u want ?
@@snowtfl5617 May want to throw some punctuation in there somewhere. My point was the lessons of history were ignored by the US, as they were in Vietnam, with the same result. Britain had no excuse, Harold Wilson refused to send British forces to Vietnam in 63, had there been a more competent less duplicitous Prime Minister than Blair the same should have been done in 2001.
@@montycasper4300 Vietnam was the CIA seizing power from the White House and joining forces with the industrialists. That's why the CIA killed Kennedy and Diem. Wilson was obviously informed by MI6.
23 years serving and everything Craig has said I understand. Was discharged in 2016, the last five years have been tougher and full of pain, misery and isolation than when I served. CPTSD and physical injuries make simple things like even brushing your teeth in the morning or going to a shop to buy a paper monumental and harrowing. A child screaming in the shopping aisle means me leaving the shop drenched in sweat, shaking and often shitting myself. Not knowing where I am. Fair play to Craig for fighting on. Oh and when he mentioned his dog saving him, my furball cat did the same for me, multiple times. If you are suffering there is help, just ask for it, you will never be judged.
@@Ainzdabest I would join the reserve at your age, and see what its like and about. You will honestly struggle coming in at 27 as you will be the mature grandad of the troop if you went regular. Regular recruitment is a ballsache as its run by Capita "whom have no experience of military life at all" . If you like what you are doing in the reserve and enjoy it, consider coming across to the regular service. You need to be fit, motivated and eager to learn. At 27 its harder to learn things in basic training and you may be older than the instructors "not thats a bad thing". Yes I would go reserve at first and see if its for you, good luck and I hope you do well.
I served in the military which ironically was probably the best job I've ever had, but I've had CPTSD due to events happening in childhood over 55 years ago. When I was a young man I'd explode in violence every few years after having bottled everything up, a minor event could finally trigger it. Football violence brought some relief. Nightmares and bad dreams every night since. As I got older and had a family I worked harder to keep a lid on it and tried many treatments, none has made any difference. I have struggled to enjoy anything and have cycles of low to high depression, anxiety and terrible worry. I have thought about suicide every day, planned it in detail and by chance have been prevented from carrying it out on two occasions. Now I am snappy, angry most of the time but calm on the surface. Sex is not particularly enjoyable, in fact nothing is, now I have a breakdown every few years instead of the violence, and get trembling in body but my arms in particular whenever I am under any pressure at all. If I'm left alone, like this gentleman, my cats have been better than any medicine in calming me down. My second wife is simply amazing, and 3 grown up kids who are great. I've always been lucky with friends and family, and I try to go out of my way to be nice to everyone, but I feel terrible and like crap inside. Don't think anything will ever cure it, just manage it. I wish everyone peace of mind and happiness.
@@Rockhopper1 the advice u gave that factory guy was spot on, but have to add they shouldn't join at 16 like I did, I was not ready , been similar to u too mate, gotta admit the doggo was probably my biggest saviour , it is lonely after u leave right? Camp is so disjointed to real life too, u either have to hide who u are in the army or civvy life cos we're all about conformity and nothing compares , its hard to explain and I was only in a quarter of your time. Was 90s for me and I'm half cast and going to South England where there's people who have fought people looking similar to you but your wearing the uniform is almost like an insult to them,different now like my section lance Jack was national front so last 2 years were hell for me I can tell u I snapped and I nearly killed him in his sleep , he its been like 21 years and I never saw a combat roll so I don't know wat that's like but I was pushed beyond anything iv seen before or since , I could have killed him and not spent a day in jail because of the things he did , I just went home , he walked out a sgt major an my brain still can't understand it because he wasn't fit , couldn't do the phys had obvious mental problems and this is before the stuff he did to me and others and I feel like I have let people down who served under him an things happen, sorry for my rant. Still consider myself a royal engineer tho 😁
One thing i love about this video is the title of it, they use it almost as clickbait as you end up watching a vid that talks about mental health and is one everyone should watch.
I read his book a while ago. Some of the things he experienced, particularly in Kosovo for me, were horrific. His treatment by the army at the end of his service was disgusting. I hope he’s at peace with himself, he deserves to be.
When I got to the end of his book I couldn't believe what I was reading. I remember thinking with tears in my eyes and my head in my hands "Why, why, why". Outfknragious treatment for such a great Leader of Men. One of the best books I have read.
Not the majority poor and working class and minority upper class I served as an infantry soldier in the British army they all have fighting and resistance its in our blood I would love to say I will never serve Her Majesty and government again but I swore a vow to the most high to serve so I have to I'm 42 now I got another 3 years.......off course the British military is about to be massively expanded! The day I returned from my mobilized service (I was army reserve and was mobilized for a year 6 month training to get to regular standard and 6 month serving in Iraq I was demobed the day I returned i was homeless I was a very dangerous man and I know something swayed me from violence I've become born again i accept that yeshusha Christ is my king and saviour and he died on the cross for 3 days then came back .....and I truly believe we all belong to the most high and He is calling us up to be ready for the return of his beloved son who last came as a lamb but is returning as a lion! Our generation is special we have been kept for this, an honour to serve yeshusha our king and the father the most high Yahweh
PTSD ... these service guys having to cope with little support is terrible. I had to deal with a very gory motorbike accident (I was first on the scene) as a member of the public. Its been a few years and if I think about it, it overwhelms me. Its hard to describe without having been through it. Respect to those guys
I know what you mean. When in Australia, I saw a school bus hit a truck and overturn. I can see those kids in their white shirts, coming towards me now, behind those bus windows 😩.
Brother, as an ex-military man myself, I truly believe that the armed forces do not have a monopoly on ptsd. Maybe it is worse per se because of the circumstances, but to say you don't have ptsd because you are not in the military is complete bullshit. As a civilian, you have just as much, if not better, access to mental health professionals. I sincerely hope that you have seeked out help and got some. Thank you for your service as a first responder. Everyone in every walk of life can suffer from ptsd. We need to keep talking about it and be a source of help and comfort to those who are suffering from it. God bless you brother.
Craig Harrison, British hero, absolute credit to our country, hope he is dealing with it OK now, what he's gone through for our country is unreal. Special guy.
The true terror and sadness in his eyes when he tells about his fights after all battle is over, the battle that claims more soldier lives than the war itself. You just want to shake his hand, give him a hug and say thank you for shielding us civilians from the ugliness of war and support him getting back into the civilian outfit. He'll never forget the terrors and horrors he has lived through, the things he has had to do for flag and country, for all of us. Any day we can give him where he is not mentally back in those places is a day he will spend feeling alive again, that goes for all veterans, no matter where they are from, we the people and the local government should take care of them with all our hearts, cause they are the heroes that let us sleep calmly at night. Marry christmas times to all who celebrate it, may it be one of many more for all our veterans.
@@cliveramsbotty6077 he picked a career that has him protect good civilians from bad people, risking his life and get paid as much as a burger flipper.
Craig is a man who we are all indebted to, as a nation we need to make sure Craig and other likes him are looked after and as individuals we should do all we can do what ever we can to to support him and other veterans, its our duty, thank you Craig.
12:54 - The rifle he used was a bolt action, not a semi-auto! The rifle was the Accuracy International L115A3 - a bolt action firing .338 Lapua rounds.
@@CombatArmsChannel The L115A3, the Accuracy international Arctic Warfare Magnum. When chambered in .338 is unofficially known as the Arctic Warfare Super Magnum. All modern military sniper rifles are descended from AI's first rifle, the L96 or Arctic Warfare, chambered in 7.62 NATO. AI took inspiration from precision rifles used for elite sport, in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
What a guy - I live in the uk & I thank him & all the others who serve our country. He’s seen so much horror & for so long. I hope he continues to be strong & carry on. Thanks again.
Broke my heart, totally broke my heart. I’m ex British Army, I did the earlier stuff such as The Gulf, The former Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Kosovo etc. I just cracked up, his story ref his ptsd is SPOT ON, I’ve been an extremely cutoff person, not embarrassed to say I’ve not even showered for over 6 months n that was this year, I feel the floodgates open, just wanted to say thanks for putting this video up, it’s NOT the shot that’s important about this vid, it’s his ptsd story, thanks again especially on this day when everyone gets to celebrate but I’m laying on my bed not eaten for days. I just chug away on my vape mostly n definitely stay away from alcohol
Ok this is going to sound mental but did you serve by any chance with some one called Ray or Raymond Gradwell in the gulf, It's just I feel like I've looked at your pic a million times in my mums photo album that has my brothers pic from the gulf
Nearly lost it watching this, nothing I can say except all these guys need all the help and respect that’s warranted with the job they do, thank you Theo for being so respectful ❤️
Hope you're doing alright now mate. The original video was difficult to watch and emotionally hard to handle. Stay strong and remember you went and got through it
As a brit I'm immensely proud of this guy but ashamed of how veterans are treated after leaving the service. If I had won the £200 million Euro Lottery I would sort these guys out in whole
Some of the comments under the original video were absolutely disgusting. Keyboard warriors shaming a man suffering from a condition as a result of serving his country. Glad this comment section has more empathy and respect than they did.
What an absolute inspirational guy. What he and other armed forces personal must have gone through and still living through each day/night is beyond the average persons comprehension. The war might be over but the battle rages on. This guy is a true humble human being. A true hero.
It's awful, and I feel very sorry for Craig and everyone else who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I only did one tour and that was enough for me after 6 years of service. Nothing on earth could have prepared me for my deployment. Fortunately, I got out, adjusted to civilian life and don't carry too much baggage. The odd night terror, some MH issues that I actively seek therapy for, but i'm one of the lucky ones. I have a dad who not only is a psychiatric nurse but is also ex-military and deployed so he's also seen it first hand, understands and has the skills to help. I really do wish more was done in the UK to help our veterans when they get back. There are still guys in hospital now from the Falklands for fuck sake, 40 years on and still hospitalized says everything you need to know
During my years as a nurse and then senior nurse in liaison psychiatry, I assessed many veterans with PTSD, I feel proud I was able to get them into the help they needed. Hope you're doing well now mate, take care.
I'm not a soldier but have suffered through chronic depression where I attempted suicide. I'm good now. I have a fantastic best mate, an amazing girlfriend and family and a great doctor. I take daily meds and see a physiologist. Life is pretty good. You sound like a very intelligent grounded person who's done the sensible thing and sought help. Please take care mate. You deserve happiness. I'm glad as a society we are starting to acknowledge mental health issues. Most people will struggle and need a little help at some stage in their life
@@matthewcullen1298 Cheers buddy, I appreciate that. Luckily I was a Medic when I was in and come from a family that are mostly Nurses or Doctors, with a few Psychiatric Nurses and Doctors in there too, so I am EXTREMELY fortunate with my circumstances when it comes to management of my own Mental Health. I'm the 1 in 1 Billion lucky one with that and even I struggle at times. I'm glad you're on the mend man, best advice I feel like I was ever given was that 1 - i'm not alone in this, there are millions of people who will feel the same way, so it's nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, and 2 - Whenever I'm struggling in any way, break things down into bitesize pieces and deal with them one at a time, rather than focusing on the whole issue at hand. It doesn't always work, but it definitely helps my management of situations
Jeeeeez what a video for Boxing Day. No tears here……honest 👀 The longest shot part almost pails in comparison to the talking about the stuff coming up after service. I wish leaving the military and talking about these things (in general civvy and military trauma) weren’t so stigmatised. Many kudos to him for that honesty.
An amazing, eloquent man thank you for all you did during your service and after for those less able to talk about their mental health, what a gentleman
I was in Basra at about the same time. We'd rebuild sandbag walls during the day and they'd be shot to pieces again overnight. We had almost no control over the ground so the enemy were free to mortar and attack from any direction. An infuriating political decision by our government, who refused to commit more troops or withdraw.
I watched his interview with the Veterans Foundation. I had to keep wiping my eyes. I just wanted to give him a hug. This poor guy is suffering so much, he's so lucky his amazing wife is there for him. I'm currently in the middle of reading his book: 'The Longest Kill'. I recommend you all read it to get his full story. We're all here for you, Craig.
Thank you for running this interview. The man was profoundly honest about both his time in the service and his post service battle with mental health and the love and support of family. All credit to him as a veteran and his total humility, and to all our veterans for what they endure and for those whom they love and who love them. Must get the book.
Wow...a powerful message for both civilians and combat veterans. Sharing such a personal story is the most courageous and impressive thing this man has done. He'll probably save as many lives off the battlefield as he did on it. Compassion and gratitude for those who have served. May we be worthy of their service and protection. Thank you for your stellar commentary. and insight.
Emotionally moving and absolutely incredible watching this really insightful video. It certainly wasn't what I expected. Thanks for featuring this on your channel.
To be a sniper in the British army you are normally picked out from a group of the best soldiers from a regular rifle company and sent on a precourse, basically 6 weeks or so of fieldfcraft, marksmanship and phys. After this course the best performers are selected to the go on a sniper course, normally ran by any unit, but open to others while it's on. This is a 10 week long course with a high rate of failure but if you pass all badging tests you are badged and able to call yourself a sniper.
You just a new subscriber. I'm from the UK, and this was one amazing, emotional video. His honesty is outstanding, as is his strength mentally. I will be watching more, thank you for helping other's understand. Wish I'd found this channel before, found it whilt doing my history on Simo Häyhä. Thank you, bless you, and stay safe.
As powerful and moving as it get's,I hope with the love and support of his family and his beloved dog he will one day soon find the peace he derserves.
Craig is a national treasure in my eyes, absolute legend. He talks about his experiences in a great podcast with James English which I’d recommend to everyone.
This guy is a true hero he is amazing. I hope the army are looking after him, he needs protecting now, like he looked after his units. I'm not sure but i think Craig is the sniper that killed 6 insurgents with one shot. Well done Betsy good save.
To open up like that is so very impressive. There are dark days in all our lives however our armed forces have been behind the curve to acknowledge this and I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone who has served their country, the things they have done and they all deserve our respect and, more importantly, care when they leave service. Too many end up on the streets after serving in the armed forces. Massive respect to all.
He was carrying the .338 L115A3 (AWM). So bolt action. His spotter would have carried the semi auto L129A1 which is the LMT MWS in 7.62x51. They did do a follow up video where he talked through all of his equipment which could be good to look at.
I have always enjoyed your content, but this is in my eyes one of your greatest works. The bloke is an absolute unit, but to hear his personal thoughts and trauma was deeply moving. I am obssessed with war but sometimes i need to be reminded about the cost it comes with...Thank you.
Phoning your wife at that time is unreal I felt for you ,your a hero thank you for everything you have done for our country in keeping us all safe ,so proud to be British
When he phoned to his wife teminde6me of an interview of one of the first assault police force during the Paris attacks in 2015. He just called her to say he loved her as he was sure he will not make it. Respect to all the men and women fighting for their country whatever their flag is.
One vet who had re-trained as a psychologist said "Once the fighting ends the real battle starts". I have worked with veterans with PTSD and one thing most have in common is that PTSD is a stealthy bar-stuard that creeps up on you then gives you the "death by one thousand cuts" routine. It really does need more recognition and more support than it gets in the UK.
An absolutely brilliant interview, honest and true. I'd like to Thank him for his service to the UK and its people, so thank you, and to you also for service to peace and security around the world. PTSD is a killer, it takes ones life in more ways than one, and can push one to the ultimate end, as he said, it's hard. PTSD can form from core memories that are formed from moments in life that affect one extremely deeply, so deep it can stay hidden for years then suddenly pop up and hit one like a ton of bricks, it's like a brick 🧱 that just won't allow one to pass, then one day, it falls and everything comes floating back, like a dam breaking, things you didn't even know about because you'd suppressed those images and thoughts. Depression, snappiness, uptight, easily aggregated, quick to react and not ok the best of ways, isolation and more. Not all PTSD is experienced by military personnel, sole of us have gone through scenarios and events that's have changed our lives forever, I'm one of them, I experienced death at a very young age, people extremely important to ones foundational support as one grows up in to an adolescent then adulthood. If suffering from PTSD, please get a diagnosis then the help that one needs, because it's taken up most if my life, because I never got the help I needed. Luckily I'm intelligent enough to use phycology on myself although self help in this area takes an awfully long time, but it's working and I'm getting there. Great subject matter Theo, the reaction makes it all the better. Thanks for showing this interview. 👍🏻
The f..ING snowflakes of the world need to listen to guys just like this to realise just how privileged they are to live in a free country because of the physical and mental sacrifices the military make....this guy is fantastic and so humble... great video
OMg I can feel his pain. Thank you for the video and for lifting this. He does not have PTSD he has what I have and its called CPTSD because you are exposed to trauma over a long period of time. I still to this day get angry but my wife has really worked hard on changing my behavior and without her, my kids and my dogs I would have checked out a long time ago.
Suffering from PTSD myself I can totally relate to what he was saying some day's are easy some are really hard and you can't help the thoughts that go through your mind I've never tried suicide I believe you have to play the hand you've been dealt,these day's I manage it with exercise and meditation but there where some day's when it was brutal and disabling I found a way of dealing with it but if your suffering get help it's out there also family and friends are a big help.
I remember watching this interview when it was first uploaded and it always gets me when he talks about phoning his wife. What an absolutely amazing man
Wow, I've read Craig's autobiography The Longest Kill a few years back, what a read but hearing and seeing the words coming out of the man's mouth hit home so much more than the books words read out in my own head. Craig mate, I'm sure you will find some sort of peace especially with the love and support of your wife and dog. There's a free night out on the beer waiting for u Craig the next time your passing Brecon mate. Just for people to have an understanding of how difficult that shot was, not only does he use a rifle that is not up to the job, not only does he have to take into account the movement of the target and several changes in wind direction but he also had to take into account the rotation of the earth itself....Amazing!!
I'm a grown man and very proud but that story put a tear to my eyes. God we dont realise what these men go through mentally and emotionally for the freedoms us normal civilians have . I hope this incredible man can find piece inside himself and live a normal life , which myself and many more of us take for granted .
Though it was only after WW2 we started realizing soldiers came back with mental issues, I can imagine soldiers from past wars going back 1000s of yrs had these same issues knowing how brutal it used to be.
It's been known about for a long time it's just nobody in charge gave a damn about the common soldier, it's mentioned in ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian war with sparta fighting Athens. It must have been commonly known about in societies that fought wars almost yearly, although they wouldn't have the scientific evidence and understanding about it that we have today they weren't stupid they must have put two and two together
In fact WWI. For example, Owen and Sassoon were sent to a psychiatric hospital in Edinburgh, during the war. Nicely described in Pat Barker's 'Regeneration Trilogy'.
The Greeks wrote of it, Dickins novels almost always had the violent angry middle aged brute, probably a familiar character at a time when a quarter of a million napoleonic war veterans lived throughout Britain. After the American Civil War it was called Soldiers Heart or Nostalgia. It's as old as warfare.