Shaun Clark, and Ex-Soldier, has names of 232 Troops Killed in Afghanistan Tattoed on His Back

Shaun Clark, a former soldier, has had the names of every British soldier killed in Afghanistan tattooed on his back.

Shaun Clark, 43, served with the 8th Battalion Light Infantry Regiment from 1989 to 1996.
The first name was inked on to his body on Wednesday morning, the 11th of November, at 11am, just as the traditional Armistice Day two-minute silence began.
Shaun said, “I don’t mind suffering for a few days if I can let the lads know that people really care about what they’re doing out there, and raise some money for the guys coming home wounded as well.
“The family thought I was mad to begin with, but they’ve come round to the idea now, and my wife is backing me all the way.”

Shaun Clark, a married father-of-two from Doncaster, England is hoping that his challenge will raise £500 for the charity Help for Heroes.
Speaking before the tattooist started working on him Shaun said, “It’s going to be painful business but it’s nothing compared to what the troops are going through every single day on the front line.”
He added, “I know it’s a bit extreme covering the top half of your body front and back with 223 names, but it’s my way of honouring all those men and women and it’ll be there as a memorial for as long as I live.”

Speaking about his aim to raise £500 for the Help for Heroes charity, Shaun Clark said, “I wanted to do something to raise money for the heroes who still need help and to honour the memory of the fallen.
“I’ve still lots of friends from my days in the Army over in Afghanistan and there’s lots of Donny lads out there as well.
“Lots of people do things to raise money but I wanted to do something different and something permanent.
“It’s not just about raising money - it’s also about letting these lads know that people care about what they’re doing.”

Shaun Clark served in Denmark, Gibraltar, and Norway before he left the Army in 1997.
He says he has received lots of messages of support from his from former colleagues and soldiers who are still out in Afghanistan.
Shaun has set up a page on the Just Giving fundraising website and has raised £165.
His page is full of supportive comments from well-wishers.
One supporter wrote, “Good luck Shaun it means a lot to me what you are doing as my husband is there soon.”
Another supporter wrote, “Top bloke. We will remember them.”

A spokesman from Help for Heroes said, “We are used to people going the extra mile, but this goes far beyond the norm.
“Shaun was in touch a few days ago to confirm everything was going ahead.
“It turned out to be a very poignant conversation because the volunteer who took the call lost her husband in action earlier in the year and, of course, his name is among those on the list.”

The tattoo artist Kevin Kent, donated his services free of charge, and said, “We’re going to start just as the two minute silence begins at 11am on Wednesday, and I’ve told Shaun that’s it’s going to be a slow and painful process.”
Kevin Kent drew up a list of all the British casualties in Afghanistan since April 2002 with the help of the Ministry of Defence.
Shaun Clark and Kevin Kent have said they will update the list of names each year if necessary.

Help for Heroes is a charity that raises money to help support members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded.
In just over two years Help for Heroes has raised over £30 million from over than 10,000 individual events.

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