A former sniper now based in North Wales is set to share his frontline experiences with veterans during a special talk and book signing.
Ted Shirley, who served two tours in Afghanistan with a Welsh infantry battalion, will speak at the Army Reserve Centre in Colwyn Bay on January 30.
He will discuss his military career, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and journey to recovery.
Now 38, the book recounts his journey from age 20.
Mr Shirley said: "I now do talks about my experiences to try and help those in my former shoes.
"I'll be doing a talk and book signing event in colwyn bay Army reserves centre on Jan 30th for veterans about mental health and it'd be great to have that promoted in the paper.
"The book starts when I’m aged 20 and attending the infamous British Army Sniper Cadre back in 2009."
He is the author of the book, Afghanistan Sniper: Trauma On The Front Line And Beyond, which Mr Shirley says gives a personal insight into the realities of military life and its long-term impact on mental health.
The book follows Mr Shirley’s journey from sniper training to active operations in Helmand Province, where he carried out long-range missions and lost a close friend to conflict.
It also details his battle with PTSD—a struggle that eventually led to a three-month stay in a mental health facility.
Mr Shirley wrote about living with the condition for more than a decade before beginning his path to recovery.
The book is written as an unfiltered account of the psychological toll of war and the difficulty of returning to civilian life.
Mr Shirley said: "It talks about my time on sniper training, operations in Afghanistan, my struggles with PTSD and how I then managed to make a full recovery."
The memoir describes his experiences on operations, including being targeted by an enemy sniper and taking life from extreme distances.
It follows his journey as the battalion took on the Taliban.
Deploying on the biggest air assault operation since the Second World War, they made shots from a mile away and took out two enemy fighters with one round.
The book concludes with his efforts to regain control of his life through therapy, travel, and exploring alternative healing methods that ultimately aided his recovery.
Mr Shirley now delivers talks to support fellow veterans.
The Colwyn Bay talk is specifically aimed at veterans and will focus on mental health, personal recovery, and life after military service.
Mr Shirley’s lived experience and open approach are intended to help others struggling with PTSD and related challenges.
The talk and book signing will be held at the Army Reserve Centre on January 30.
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