May Day marchers
AN army charity has appealed for people to help find a former Glasgow soldier homeless on the streets of London.
Jobs for Homeless Soldiers has issued an urgent appeal on Facebook, highlighting the story of 28-year-old Jimmy Gillespie, who served with the Scots Guards.
His plight was brought to the attention of the charity, which helps homeless and vulnerable ex-military personnel get off the streets and into jobs in the security industry, by Steve O’Halloran.
Steve posted to say he had “an emotional and humbling day” after meeting Jimmy outside Kings Cross station last Thursday.
He said Jimmy had lost his child and his fiancee, had no parents and had been sleeping on the streets of London for 11 weeks.
“We got chatting on the pavement,” he said.
“He is not well. Alone, cold, lost and very proud to take help. We sorted him out with money and stayed with him for about an hour because he just wanted company.”
He said Jimmy was a ‘proud and witty man’, who used to play the acoustic guitar. “He still remembers his army number,” he wrote.
“His belongings are in a see through bag that he carries. He is alone in a rich country and those who know and love him might want to know where he is.
“He asked for a hug on the concourse of Kings Cross station which broke my heart. He just wanted some human contact.”
The charity posted Steve’s comments on their Facebook page and ‘urgently’ appealed for people to ‘keep their eyes open.”
“We need to get him the help he needs,” they said.
Several people posted in response to Steve, including Deitmar Hinton, who said: “Why the hell is a war hero left out on the streets?
“Surely this man and countless other veterans like him have more than paid their debt to society and have earned the right to help both medical and physical to find a place to live and a job.”
Jake Lennox posted: “So often it’s our veterans that are left on our streets – it is crazy that those who sacrifice so much are offered so little. How can this be?”
Steve said he was thinking of returning to London to look for Jimmy. He wrote: “This has really affected and bothered me. Ultimately nobody can force this man’s hand – we try to help and that’s that.”
On Facebook, Karen Meechan told Steve the post would be shared on the Scots Guard website.
She wrote: “They are all Scots together and in the past have helped many ex-soldiers like Jimmy.
“I feel sure they will be able to help in some way.”