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Laura-Murphy

A veteran interview with

Laura Murphy

Laura Murphy’s husband John’s health has deteriorated since he was injured in Afghanistan. An accident led to degenerative disease in the spine, and his mental health has been affected by his career.

Laura explains how their family situation has affected their children in different ways, and how Hidden Wounds and Help for Heroes’ Band of Sisters have been supporting them.

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About Laura Murphy

An accident led to degenerative disease in the spine, and his mental health has been affected by his career.

Laura explains how their family situation has affected their children in different ways, and how Hidden Wounds and Help for Heroes’ Band of Sisters have been supporting them.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | Laura Murphy

A veteran interview with

Laura Murphy

Laura-Murphy

Laura Murphy’s husband John’s health has deteriorated since he was injured in Afghanistan. An accident led to degenerative disease in the spine, and his mental health has been affected by his career.

Laura explains how their family situation has affected their children in different ways, and how Hidden Wounds and Help for Heroes’ Band of Sisters have been supporting them.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Murphy, Laura. A Veteran Interview with Laura Murphy. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 16 Feb. 2020 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/laura-murphy/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.
APA Style:
Murphy, L. (2020, February 16). A Veteran Interview with Laura Murphy [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved August 17, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/laura-murphy/
Chicago Style:
Murphy, Laura. 2020. A Veteran Interview with Laura Murphy. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, February 16. Accessed August 17, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/laura-murphy/
Harvard Style:
Murphy, L. (2020). A Veteran Interview with Laura Murphy. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 16 February. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/laura-murphy/ (Accessed: 17 August 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Murphy, L. A Veteran Interview with Laura Murphy [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2020 Feb 16 [cited 2026 Aug 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/laura-murphy/
An interview with

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Lisa Kirkpatrick’s Journey: From Struggle to Strength with Help for Heroes

Lisa Kirkpatrick’s husband Gary had an accident on an army training exercise. Engaged at the time and with a new baby, Lisa struggled to cope and Gary's mental health was suffering. Watch as Lisa describes the support they received from Help for Heroes' Band of Sisters which led to her becoming an ambassador for the charity.
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Project:
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:
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An interview with

Howard Ormerod

A man of charity and survivor of the SS Atlantic Conveyer which was tragically sunk by enemy forces during the Falklands War.

Howard Ormerod provides an enthralling account of his service with Royal Navy supplies aboard the SS Atlantic Conveyor during the Falklands War. Already having a background in trade, Howard's introduction to the navy began after receiving a job at the naval supplies department as part of the Ministry of Defence. However, it would take him four years before finding himself at sea where he volunteered as a civil servant aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. When war broke out in the Falklands, his services became valuable to the SS Atlantic Conveyor, commanded by Captain Ian North. Howard recalls the immensity of the ship, acting as a carrier not just for small items but also large vehicles. He was tasked with managing and protecting the stores onboard. During her voyage, the Conveyor managed to offload supplies to RFA Stromness at Ascension Island and later transferred Harriers to HMS Plymouth. Things were running smoothly until the carrier was hit by an Exocet missile. The situation became so disastrous that the crew was forced to abandon ship. Howard describes his thrilling escape, passing though rising smoke which obscured his view and falling into water after missing a life raft beneath him. Ironically, the same life raft came on top of him at one point, nearly drowning him. His life had briefly flashed before his eyes. After being rescued by HMS Alacrity, Howard noticed that many of the stores were caught in the destruction and even more tragically, the loss of human lives, including the captain himself, Ian North. Following the catastrophe, Howard was sent home by aircraft, an experience he reflects on despairingly. After the Falklands, he would continue his naval supplies career for another three years before moving into accountancy. Despite having no regrets, Howard's brief time in the Falklands War made him wish that some things had gone differently and that more people recognised the success of the civil servants who helped in the offloading of stores. His interview reflects their bravery and achievements in the navy during the conflict.
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Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker