In the past year The Royal British Legion have claimed to have had 1,485 calls from ex-servicemen who are now on the street, with numbers expected to increase as more manage to find a voice.
Homeless ex-Lieutenant, Mark Thomas, 56, who served in the Falklands and Iraq during a 17 year army career said ‘I’ve seen my friends dying, being blown to pieces. Once a friend was shot right onto me, it was either leave him behind and risk getting shot myself or use him as a body bag. I still got him home, gave him the funeral him and his family deserved. Nothing prepares you for something like that.’
Once his army career was over Mr Thomas expected to be looked after by the country that he had served in what has in the past, and is to this day marketed as a noble and selfless career choice.
Army, be the best is the motto used to enrol new recruits, but it seems the best don’t get the best treatment upon leaving.
‘I was honourably discharged and when I was of no more use to the crown I was forgotten about.’ ‘I think it’s disgusting, I feel betrayed by my government and by the country that I love’
Now on the street and feeling let down Mr Thomas sees no way out of the vicious cycle of surviving day-to-day.
‘I can’t see a future, it breaks my heart to know I invested so much into my country and they give nothing back, it’s disgraceful really.’
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