With this being Cadet150 year – Celebrating 150 years of cadet forces in the UK – Cambridgeshire Army Cadets have chosen the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity as their main charity this year. Throughout the year cadets will be involved in many fundraising events and Baxterbear will be supporting them.

 

After joining in March Baxterbear is proving very popular with the cadets. He has already passed his basic training when he attended the ‘Basic Weekend’ at Easter. At the Army Careers Exhibition, Bassingbourn, He did a parachute jump with the team leader of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment's Parachute Display Team ‘The Tigers’, Sergeant Dave Clarke who was carrying The Soldiers’ Charity flag.

Baxterbear’s story is based on a true one that started in World War Two. He was co-piloting a reconnaissance plane - which carry no weapons – with Pilot Baxter on missions over the Burmese jungle, flying only 500 feet above the treetops to take photographs for the British Army. On one of these missions they were shot down from the skies, crash-landing in the thick jungle below.

When he came to they were both hanging from their parachutes high in the jungle canopy. It was then that he decided that, if they survived, he would spend the rest of his life helping people to stay positive. This was when his nine point philosophy on life was born.

Amazingly, on the fifth day they were rescued by an Army Gurkha unit. After trekking four days through the jungle, they eventually received treatment at an Army field hospital in Imphal, India. Here Pilot Baxter slowly recovered from his life-threatening injuries. To this day Baxterbear still carries reminders of his own injuries, a patched shoulder and a torn ear. It is through this experience that Baxterbear has a strong link with the Army.

The Commandant, Colonel Roger Herriot said “We are delighted to have Baxterbear on board with us. His story is inspirational and we hope that young people can take something away from that. He has already achieved a lot in the short time he has been with us but I am sure he will have many more adventures by the end of the year!”

 

 You can find out more about Baxterbear at his website www.baxterbear.com

 

By S/Sgt Helen Matthews