Do you Believe in Fate?

I thought I would start off a thread to gauge some of the thoughts of Forum members. Many people are very superstitious, some believe in fate, others just think "what will be, will be". I know many of us will be able to recount things that have happened to either ourselves or colleagues throughout our service, where we consider that luck, fate, etc has played a part. I dont want to confine this to army experiences but anything significant in life that has happened to you, or someone you know. Heres my particular experience, which I still believe to this day was fate.

I joined JIB Shornecliffe in 1988(sprog!) as a Junior Leader, with good old Richie64 as my Platoon Sergeant(and a damned fine one at that!!). Prior to joining the army, I was, and still am a very keen supporter of Liverpool FC. I now travel Europe watching them(when I can) and have a Season Ticket. I now travel to all games with bri taylor49.

Near the end of my training in April 1989, Liverpool were drawn to play Nottingham forest in the FA Cup semi-Final at the Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield. Ironically, we played them there the year before in the same competition. A game which I attended. This years game was to be played on the 15th April, and my mates, in my absence got hold of a ticket for me. Being 'over the moon', I went to see Richie and asked was it ok if I caught a train from folkestone to sheffield on the saturday, returning that evening.

Much to my dismay, Richie explained that we had a Platoon Commanders' weekend planned in London and we all had to attend. No amount of creeping, begging or threatening to DAOR would work, Ritchie was adamant that I had to go on the trip to London. Such was my love of my team, I seriously considered going AWOL for the match.Richie must have known this as, suprise suprise he was in my Barrack room early that morning to make sure I was on the bus to London. oh well, I thought, there will be other games!

Meanwhile, up in Sheffield....

Without going into the details, Im sure many of you will be aware, that the day turned into a tragedy. 96 innocent Liverpool fans were tragically killed in a crush at the LEPPINGS LANE end of the ground.My mates, thankfully had tickets for the seats at the side of the pitch where we all sat the year before.As I was in training and not attending league matches, They had to get my ticket seperately.

My ticket for the match was for the LEPPINGS LANE end, and the fatal crush occurred in pens 3 and 4, directly behind the goal. The place where I would have stood whenever I was on the terracing. As the news filtered through from Sheffield, I began to ponder things. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

I've often discussed this with Richie, and he gets rather embarrassed when I thank him for being so steadfast regarding me not going to the match. But in my mind, that decision was fate. I will never ever forget the memory of the 96, and Bri Taylor and I go to the memorial service at Anfield on 15th April every year.

Just a bit of Luck? Not in my eyes!
R.I.P. The 96, "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!"


Over to you for your stories...

I was a patrol commander whilst we were in Woodburn Camp, N/I 197? with the Mortars. I was due to take a patrol to Tuff Lodge. When I got to the guard room Cpl Jones 02 (I think ) North Walian, had taken my patrol out. He was driving the Landrover and somewhere on route was shot. He didn't notice until they got to the base at Turf Lodge. Thankfully he survived, but I believe lost one of his lungs.

Thats fate............................ should have been me!!

Strangely enough,

Not many people know this but the weekend Don Hewer and myself were hit in South Armagh, I should have been on leave at wedding in bridgend, with my, then girlfriend, in actual fact on the very same day, not only that less than 2 mins later we would have been in the Bunker getting some kip !!

If it hadn't have happened like it did, I wouldn't have met Janie my wife and have five great children now.

My personal thoughts,,,,,I can walk, talk and think for myself and do most things, Do I believe in fete??? I think so...

What else can I say !!

Pat Provo Provis....

Big beliver in fate................I come off the back of a good rugby tour of Wales with the Battalion rugby team where I played in my usual position as wing forward. Back in Warminster I was asked to play prop in an experimental more "mobile" pack, such was my love of the game that I immediately said yes as it meant getting more game time. Well we all know what happened next.............if I had said no who knows?????????? Having said all that, I can't fault my life now, great wife, two sons I'm extremely proud of (the oldest of which has followed in his Dad's footsteps albeit in the RE and he plays outside half for Bargoed RFC) and good friends. Best of all I get two free tickets to EVERY International Game.......Happy Days!!