Home | Veterans | Kirsty Green
KirstyGreen

A veteran interview with

Kirsty Green

Play video
Watch the interview

About Kirsty Green

Content warning//

This interview contains discussions of sensitive topics such as PTSD and addiciton which some viewers may find distressing.

If you are affected by these topics, please consider seeking support from a trusted person or organisation.

 

Kirsty’s partner, Glenn, completed two tours of Afghanistan but it was a tragic accident during a training exercise that turned their lives upside down. Glenn was parachuting down from 30 000 feet when he was blown off course, landed in a tree then fell to the ground. The result was a devastating spinal injury. After a period in hospital, Glenn comes home and Kirsty works hard to keep their lives on track while holding down her job and taking care of Glenn. The couple had never really spent a great deal of time living together before this and it puts a strain on their relationship, especially when Glenn is prescribed morphine which he struggles with. Glenn spends a period at the Headley Court rehabilitation centre where he receives regular medication and physiotherapy but without access to this at home, Kirsty notices a big difference in Glenn’s behaviour. He becomes increasingly angry, he won’t leave the house and Kirsty starts to suspect he has PTSD. Kirsty suggest they get a dog and this becomes a big help as Glenn has to take responsibility for it. Kirsty is even impressed that she managed to get Glenn on a holiday to Cuba.

While Glenn is still managing tremendous pain he is also working hard on his rehabilitation and can walk for short periods. Kirsty reflects that they both had to grow up very quickly to be able to deal with this trauma. This experience made Kirsty realise she wants more from her life and she is now training to be a nurse. Although Kirsty joined Band of Sisters she admits it took her a while to fully engage. She wants to share her story so other know about the help and support available, she wonders if she had asked for help sooner might this have been an easier process.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Lizzie Gray
Transcribed by:
Amy Lyon

Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | Kirsty Green

A veteran interview with

Kirsty Green

KirstyGreen

Related topics & talking points

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Green, Kirsty. A Veteran Interview with Kirsty Green. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 3 Sep. 2019 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Green, K. (2019, September 3). A Veteran Interview with Kirsty Green [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/
Chicago Style:
Green, Kirsty. 2019. A Veteran Interview with Kirsty Green. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, September 3. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/
Harvard Style:
Green, K. (2019). A Veteran Interview with Kirsty Green. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 3 September. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/ (Accessed: 23 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Green, K. A Veteran Interview with Kirsty Green [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2019 Sep 3 [cited 2025 May 23]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/kirsty-green/
An interview with

Rupert Ballantyne

As a Public Rooms Officer on the QE2, Rupert Ballantine explains how he volunteered for Queen and Country during the Falklands War, helping to transfer 3,000 British troops to reclaim the archipelago.

In 1982, Rupert Ballantine experienced a unique journey that he will always remember. He went from traveling the seas between the UK and the US aboard the renowned cruise ship the QE2 to embarking on a mission towards a conflict zone. When the military requisitioned the ship, Rupert immediately volunteered his services. It took approximately half a day for 3,000 troops and their equipment to be loaded onto the ship. The voyage began with the ship limping out of Southampton, briefly stopping behind the Isle of Wight, where a closed stopcock was found to be the culprit. The QE2 achieved speeds of 27 knots, outpacing the accompanying warships as it navigated across the oceans in a zigzag pattern. Throughout the journey, troops utilised every available space for training, and Rupert had the opportunity to sample a Gurkha curry, which is still the best he has ever tasted. Sadly, Rupert did not set foot on land when they reached their destination, but he takes pride in having contributed to the safe arrival of the British troops, enabling them to reclaim the land. The return journey included 700 injured service personnel from three British vessels that had been sunk.
Photo Gallery icon 38 Photos
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Andrew Cassels

During the Falklands War, Andrew Cassels was 2nd Mate on the BP tanker the British Avon

Andrew Cassels spent his entire career at British Petroleum (BP), joining at 17 and retiring at 60. He admits that a highlight of his time was during the Falklands Conflict when he served as 2nd Mate on the requisitioned Petroleum tanker, the British Avon. With his brother-in-law already involved in the conflict, Andrew happily volunteered. He describes preparing the ship for the journey south, highlighting the technical procedures for filling the tanks and the impressed Royal Fleet Auxiliary [RFA] crew who joined to assist with navigation. Refuelling at sea, particularly with the RFA Olna, was challenging and the stress on the ships' Captain ensured that Andrew had plenty of responsibility. He fondly recalls tuna fishing in Ascension and the Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) navigational system on the Avon, though he still enjoyed using traditional star and sun sights with his sextant.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Jenni Worthington

Jenni’s Story: Navigating Love, PTSD, and the Fight for Support

Jenni’s Partner Dan served in the army as a Royal Engineer in Bosnia and Iraq before working in Afghanistan in a civilian role. He would later be diagnosed with complex PTSD and struggle to access the right support. Jenni explains how this has effected their relationship, and how Help for Heroes' Band of Sisters supported her when she needed it most.
Service:
Project:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker