VE Day pride in our fallen heroes

[pete 2,546]

On 16/05/2025 at 20:27, Fa1833 said:

unfortunately not Pete, the very organisation you think would protect you often fails the majority who ask for help, I've known many friends who went off the rails or seen as a problem and often kicked out of the Army, I think now they have realised that the mischievous uncontrollable behaviour taking drugs /drink  is a sign for help, some also find it hard to transition from firing live ammunition to playing toy soldiers ( firing blanks) or seeing similar stuff to what your Nephew had went through, I only wish now through all the media attention on PTSD and the struggles your Nephew went through  your family also that they can somehow forgive him for some of the things he put them through. It's a dark place when your going through things you have seen or witnessed. I've got PTSD and I find this Gersnet group a good way of blocking  out my sometimes sombre mood. Yet there is also a part of me that has no emotional response and it is hard for me to realise when someone is hurting or I can't act the way I used to act with compassion, it’s  9/10 only when I have done something or said something then I realize my actions, i’m sure your nephew was the same Pete and he was very sorry for his out of character behaviour that you knew, sadly the War doesn't stop when we take off our uniform and our invisible wounds are never seen. All we have to do is talk and open up in which more are doing today, Have a listen to the podcasts from my m8 and if your in touch with your family ask them also to listen to it. 

Sorry for the late answer. I doubt my niece would be interested to be honest as she is very set in her ways, and I don't know if she speaks English that good. She is the only one left in that side of her family. My brother-in-law was in the army until recently when he retired. He was on paid leave for the last years, though. His son joined the army. After a number of years, he decided to come out into civvy land. He couldn't adapt to normal work, so he approached his ex-commander if he could rejoin again as he made a mistake coming out. His commander refused to let him back in. A few weeks later, they found him hanging from a tree. He had taken his own life. I suppose that is the same in reverse.