Korean War veteran and Blesma Member Albert Hazeltine tells his story.

Albert Hazeltine lost a leg in the Korean War, and in recent years had to have his below-knee amputation taken above the knee. He was a latecomer to Blesma, but soon became a great fan! 

How did you get involved with the military?
I’m from London, but I eventually moved away and began working on farms on the Isle of Wight. When it was time to do my two years of military service, I thought I might as well join up properly and get paid for it. I joined the Royal Artillery and was attached to the Maintenance Corps. I learned how to drive tanks, and later I taught tank driving to younger soldiers.

You served in Korea, didn’t you?
I did. I must admit my memory of it is hazy, but I don’t remember it being a particularly good time! I hadn’t been there very long when I was injured in an explosion and lost my right leg below the knee. Two of my fellow soldiers were killed in the same blast, so I’ve always considered myself lucky to escape with just an injury. I don’t remember the incident at all, I just recall being on a plane home, then in a hospital in England.

What happened next?
I was disabled out of the Service. Being injured, I just had to accept it and get on with the rest of my life. I did my rehabilitation at Roehampton, which I remember as being good. I managed to find it relatively easy to get walking again and I got to grips with the artificial leg I was given very well. Once I’d recovered enough, I went back to farming, and after a while I got into engineering and fixing cars – the Army experience working on the tanks helped with that! I moved to Chigwell in Essex, got married and had a couple of kids.

How has Blesma helped you out?
I didn’t actually know about the charity until recently because I didn’t use Blesma after my first amputation. But a couple of years ago I fell down some steps and broke the femur in my right leg. Due to complications after the fall I had to have my leg amputated above the knee, and the nurse told me about the Association then. Since then, Blesma has put a stairlift and a wet room in my house. It’s a great charity.

And you’re still up and about on an above-knee prosthetic?
Yes, although I only wear it off and on because it can sometimes give me some trouble. But with the prosthetic leg and my walking sticks, I can still get around well enough. If I was a bit younger, I’d be whizzing about like some of these young Blesma Members!