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Seriously...

Military Ink

Seriously...

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary

4.1885 Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Glasgow’s west end is home to the Primrose Path Tattoo Society where ex-service men & women have gravitated to reflect, celebrate and sometimes come to terms with their lives in the military, all while under the artists needle. Tattoos have a long tradition in the military but at the Society, each one is custom designed to reflect the deeply personal and emotional experience. David Selwyn joined the army in 2005 and served on two tours in Afghanistan with 2 Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers. He was medically discharged from the army after ten years following a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and a recurring injury to his shoulder. David has come to the Studio, ahead of Remembrance Day, to get a large and colourful tattoo from artist William Hughes to represent his own army career and the pride in his Regiment. As the artist focuses on his work we share this uniquely intimate relationship where memories good and bad are recalled, shared and sometimes laid to rest.

Details of organisations offering information and support with addiction, mental health, or feelings of despair are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Thanks to the Primrose Path Tattoo Society

Producer: Debbie McPhail Sound Design: Lee McPhail Sound Recording: Murry Collier and Chris Currie Executive Producer: Peter McManus

Transcript

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0:00.0

This was an impregnable fortress. The only way you get out was in a wooden box.

0:05.0

The controversial maximum security prison impossible to escape from.

0:09.0

And one of the duties of a political prisoner is the escape.

0:12.0

The IRA inmates who found a way. of a political prisoner is the escape.

0:12.5

The IRA inmates who found a way.

0:14.5

I'm Carlo Gableer and I'll be navigating a path

0:19.5

through the disturbing inside story of the biggest jailbreak in British and Irish history.

0:25.0

The narrative that they want is that this is a big achievement by them.

0:28.5

Escape from the maze, listen first on BBC Sounds.

0:35.0

BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.

0:40.0

Welcome to Seriously from BBC Radio 4.

0:43.5

I'm Vanessa Kasule.

0:45.0

Radio 4 is home to the world's best audio documentaries,

0:48.7

and each week you'll find two hand-picked programs in this feed. Here's the most interesting thing you're

0:55.6

here all week.

0:59.2

I've got a remembrance tattoo with the poppies along the top with the stairs to heaven

1:06.4

with me kneeling at the grave of one of my friends.

1:09.8

I've got World War II War Memorial, one of my leg kind of my grandfather.

1:15.0

His stories were the reason I decided that's what I wanted to do is a career when I was younger.

1:20.0

That's the R. H.F. Cup badge, my battalion, before we changed to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

1:25.0

And then that's just Mother Theresa, because I'm a Catholic.

1:29.0

She's always there looking over us. I'd like to think she looks over as all, but I'm not really religious the criminal's path. How can I help be today?

...

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