The wife of a lieutenant colonel who rushed to his aid after he was stabbed outside an Army barracks in Kent is a star of the Military Wives Choir who appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to talk about her work.
Eileen Teeton, née Duffy, who dashed to her Royal Engineer husband’s aid as he was stabbed outside the family home in Gillingham, Kent, joined other singers to speak to the Scottish TV star in February 2020.
The interview coincided with the launch of comedy film Military Wives starring Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas, itself based on the real singing group assembled in 2010 by the wives of soldiers serving in the Middle East.
Mrs Teeton is a member of the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir, based at the Lampard Centre near the Brompton Barracks in Gillingham. It is close to where her husband, father-of-two Lt Col Mark Teeton, was attacked on Tuesday night.
Her anguished cries as she rushed out to help her husband were captured on a neighbour’s Ring doorbell camera. Witnesses say she pulled Lt Col Teeton’s attacker off him and called for help – likely helping to save his life after the attack.
Anthony Esan, 24, appeared in court earlier today charged with the Army officer’s attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He is yet to enter pleas and has been remanded in custody.
Eileen Teeton photographed against a backdrop for ITV’s Lorraine in February 2020, when she appeared on the show to discuss the Military Wives Choir
Mrs Teeton (second from right) is a member of the Brompton military wives choir and joined fellow singers on Lorraine in 2020 ahead of the release of comedy film Military Wives
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton pictured with his wife Eileen, who may have saved his life by running out to pull his attacker away
Lt Col Teeton in his military uniform with his wife. He is believed to have been walking in a military uniform when he was attacked
Lt Col Mark Teeton has been a course manager for the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment for almost six years
A sketch of Anthony Esan, 24 (right), in court today accompanied by police officers. He is yet to enter pleas to the charges of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon
Anthony Esan being led into Medway Magistrates Court this morning (left) and leaving (right) after being charged with the attempted murder of Lt Col Teeton
A relative at Lt Col Teeton’s home declined to comment today – but a friend of Mrs Teeton’s said she was the first woman she thought of when she heard that the spouse of an Army officer had leapt to his aid.
The friend, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I didn’t know Mark, I know his wife. She was in the Military Wives choir. Lovely lady, I only found out who it was today.
‘She was always popping into the community centre, doing all her stuff there.
‘As soon as I heard the wife jumped on him to save her husband, I immediately thought of her, I didn’t know it was her, but she’s the one who came to mind.’
She said Mrs Teeton was in a local choir group of military wives. And asked if she was a big part of the community in the area, she said: ‘She is, yes.’
Lt Col Mark Teeton is reported to have joined the Army 24 years ago and has been awarded a long service and good conduct medal
A fundraiser created on GoFundMe to support Lt Col Teeton has raised nearly £1,000, with the aim of supporting the serviceman’s medical expenses and recovery costs.
If the family decline the funds raised the money will instead go towards the charity Combat Stress, which the lieutenant has raised funds for before.
Mrs Teeton was one of a number of military wives choir members to appear on ITV’s Lorraine to discuss singing ahead of the release of comedy film Military Wives, starring Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The film itself was based on the real life military wives choirs like those Mrs Teeton is a member of.
A Facebook post from the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir on February 24 2020 celebrated her appearance on the show.
The group said: ‘Our amazing Eileen – you were fabulous! We are so proud of you!’
Eileen added in the post: ‘So delighted to be selected to join fellow alto ladies on Lorraine’s sofa this morning.
‘So glad that the choir that was started has expanded to the most fabulous organisation that we know today that allows us to move from posting to posting and slip straight in the local choir.’
The Military Wives Choir is a registered charity and network of 75 choirs in British military bases across the UK and overseas with over 2,200 members.
Any woman with a military connection can join including those currently serving.
Two Scots Guards wives – Nicky Clarke and Caroline Jupp – came up with the idea of the choir as a way of supporting one another while their husbands were deployed in Afghanistan.
Choirmaster Gareth Malone directed the choir to a Christmas number one hit in 2011 with the song Wherever You Are.
Father-of-two Lt Col Teeton is in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in hospital after the incident, which took place 200 yards from Brompton Barracks, home of the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment, where he serves as a course manager.
He had reportedly been out on his regular evening walk when he was attacked by a man whom prosecutors said had partially covered his face before stabbing Lt Col Teeton with a ‘large knife or machete’ before fleeing on a moped.
Lt Col Teeton is reported to have joined the Army 24 years ago and has been a course manager at the barracks for almost six years.
Before being posted to Brompton, Lt Col Teeton spent time in Canada with the army.
Writing on Facebook, his wife recalled the moment she and her daughter met Prince William and Kate in July 2011 at Summerside Airport on Prince Edward Island on Canada’s east coast.
She wrote: ‘We arrived just before 2pm we got a spot at the front next to the fence beside the runway.
‘At around 2.15pm Canada 01 landed. My daughter was very excited and virtually climbed the fence.
‘It was a long wait and at about 5.30pm they arrived. They got out and he (William) headed toward us and she (Kate) went off the other direction.
‘As he shook my hand I said congratulations on his wedding so he asked if I watched on telly, I obviously told him we were there but too far back down The Mall to see anything.
‘He then wanted to know why I was on PEI (Prince Edward Island). My husband is on exchange in Moncton with the Royal Engineers.
‘He then wanted to know who my daughter was, I told him her name and she told him she had a kite. Then he asked were we going to fly it today. I told him we could it was windy enough.’
Lt Col Teeton ran 44 miles just last month to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and to raise money for veterans mental health support
Anthony Esan, 24, has been charged with attempted murder after Lt Col Teeton was attacked
Esan is escorted into a waiting van by a prison officer and several police officers after his court appearance today
Police on the scene of an alleged attack on a British Army officer in Gillingham
Prior to this, an online CV states he has held a number of educational roles within the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence. He was awarded a long service and good conduct medal in 2018.
He also ran 44 miles across Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day just last month to raise money for Combat Stress, a charity providing mental health support to armed forces veterans, raising almost £3,000 between donations and Gift Aid.
He wrote on a fundraising page ahead of the event: ‘In honour of our forefathers as well as current servicemen who have bravely fought to protect our way of life, I will be taking on the D-Day Challenge to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.’
After completing the gruelling challenge, he said in a video: ‘It was worthwhile… it’s a good amount of money to a fantastic charity.’
Witnesses said Lt Col Teeton had been dressed in a ‘cream camouflage’ military uniform at the time he was attacked.
Esan, 24, was arrested near his home address in Mooring Road, Rochester, at approximately 6.30pm the same day on suspicion of attempted murder.
He was subsequently charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
Following a short hearing at Medway Magistrates’ Court this morning, during which he was informed of the charges against him, Esan was remanded in custody.
Wearing a custody-issue grey top, he was was asked in court to confirm his name and date of birth but replied: ‘Why?’
He eventually confirmed the details when pressed by district judge Stephen Leake.
Prosecutor Rajni Prashar said: ‘A member of the public called 999 to report a male had been stabbed.
‘It was then reported that the victim was a soldier in uniform. The male suspect’s face was partially covered.’
She told the court a man was seen ‘running up behind’ the Army officer before he ‘pulled the soldier to the ground’, stabbed him ‘repeatedly’ and drove away on a moped.
The prosecutor added that the suspect was armed with a ‘large knife or machete’.
She continued: ‘He got on to a moped and drove off. Witnesses took down the registration number of the moped and it was traced.
‘When police arrived they located the man with the moped. On the back of the moped was a black cardboard box with a set of kitchen knives.’
Ms Prashar told the court that two of the knives had been used while three other knives still had their cardboard protective sleeves attached suggesting they had not been used.
Defending, Robert Weston said his client’s fitness to stand trial will be assessed by psychiatrists in the meantime.
He will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on August 22.
Father-of-two Lt Col Teeton suffered ‘injuries consistent with stab wounds’, police said earlier, and was airlifted to hospital.
Neighbours said his wife desperately flagged down fellow soldiers and neighbours for help as she was heard screaming in the street.
The attack took place 200 yards from Brompton Barracks, home of the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.
His wife sought the aid of other residents and soldiers from the barracks after the attack.
Police officers behind the cordon in Gillingham, Kent on Wednesday morning
An aerial view of Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham where the attack is said to have occurred
Forensic officers have been at an address in nearby Rochester, where a man was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted murder
Sally Port in Gillingham is a quiet residential street
Brompton Barracks (above) in Gillingham is home to the Royal School of Military Engineering
A police officer and a detective on Sally Port in Gillingham, close to the scene of the attack
Police officers stand beside a cordoned off area of fencing at the scene of an alleged stabbing in Gillingham today
Brompton was put into lockdown for a short period on Tuesday evening – with soldiers ordered to remain indoors.
An air ambulance was seen landing in Great Lines Heritage Park on Tuesday evening adjacent to the scene.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the incident, wishing the soldier a speedy recovery.
He later told PMQs on Wednesday: ‘Our thoughts are with him, his family and our armed forces who serve to keep us safe. We wish him a swift recovery.’
Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak added: ‘Our thoughts are with him and his family, as we wish him a speedy recovery.’
The head of the British Army, Chief of General Staff General Sir Roly Walker, said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the alleged attack.
Sir Roly confirmed the man was an officer in the Army, adding: ‘My thoughts and best wishes are with him and his family. They have the full support of the chain of command as they recover from this horrendous incident.’
An Army spokesperson said following the incident: ‘We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation.’
