Iraq veterans share touching wartime letters sent to family 10 years ago

Four veterans have shared ‘blueys’ they sent and received while deployed in the Iraq war, ahead of the 10-year anniversary of Britain’s withdrawal.

Iraq veterans have shared touching letters they sent to their families during the war to mark 10 years since Britain withdrew.

Ahead of the anniversary on Saturday, former troops who suffered life-changing injuries have revealed how handwritten notes from their wives, children and other soldiers kept them going through the war and the decade since.

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corporal Simon Brown, who had been leading a successful mission to recover six stranded colleagues in 2006 when he suffered a near-fatal shooting to his face, has shared a bluey he sent to the comrade who rescued him.

Cpl Brown wrote the letter to Corporal Warren Ward thanking him for his “efforts in saving my life” after waking from a 17-day induced coma at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham with wounds that left him blind in one eye and with 20 per cent vision in the other.

Iraq war veteran Corporal Simon Brown has shared a letter he sent to a comrade who saved his life, 10 years on from the withdrawal of British troops from the war (Help for Heroes/PA). — Iraq war veteran Corporal Simon Brown has shared a letter he sent to a comrade who saved his life, 10 years on from the withdrawal of British troops from the war (Help for Heroes/PA)

Cpl Ward, from Winsford in Cheshire, told his friend: “When I was down, I was in that dark place and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get out of it… everything almost got on top of me so I got my letter out and I read it…

“In the first line I’d start to get a lump in my throat and then halfway down I’d get a tear. It has got tear marks on it. But now I celebrate it.”

Bluey sent from Corporal Simon Brown to Sir Warren Ward (PA/ Help For Heroes). — Bluey sent from Corporal Simon Brown to Corporal Warren Ward (Help For Heroes/PA)

Now an ambassador with charity Help for Heroes and a coach for Leeds Rhinos in the Physical Disability Rugby League, Cpl Brown said he wanted people to know that Iraq veterans are “still here”.

He said: “We may not be at war but military personnel are still getting hurt and will need support for 30 or 40 years from injuries attributable to service that happened in 30 to 40 seconds of chaos.”

Royal Military Police officer Mark Clougherty shared letters from his two young sons and wife Jennifer, who was expecting their third child Niamh when he was deployed in Iraq.

Now 48, Mr Clougherty described the letters dating back 18 years as a “precious family time capsule”.

Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty has described letters he kept from his family as a "time capsule" when reading them 10 years on from the withdrawal of British troops from the war (PA/ Help For Heroes). — Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty has described letters he kept from his wife and children as a “precious family time capsule” when reading them 10 years on from the withdrawal of British troops (Help For Heroes/PA)

“The unfolding war was all over the news and although the boys were young, they knew I was in danger.”

Bluey from Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty's son Cieran, who was then six years old (PA/ Help For Heroes). — Bluey from Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty’s son Cieran, who was then six years old (Help For Heroes/PA)

Drawing from Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty's son Rhys, who was then five years old (PA/ Help For Heroes). — Drawing sent from Rhys, five, to father Mark Clougherty while he was deployed in Iraq (Help For Heroes/PA)

Since then, he has survived testicular cancer and through sports recovery at Help for Heroes will be representing Team UK in the 2022 Invictus Games.

Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty which his children Niamh and Rhys (PA/ Help for Heroes). — Iraq war veteran Mark Clougherty which his children Niamh and Rhys (Help for Heroes/PA)

Part of Mr Neve’s job as senior aircraftsman was to transport injured soldiers to hospitals, which took such a toll on his mental health that he attempted suicide.

Letter from Matt Neve while he was deployed in Iraq, to his fiancee Zoe (PA/ Help for Heroes). — Letter from Matt Neve while he was deployed in Iraq, to his fiancee Zoe (Help for Heroes/PA)

“It’s OK not to feel OK and know that asking for help is not a weakness,” she said.

The couple now have two daughters and are ambassadors for Help for Heroes, which has supported Mr Neve’s mental health recovery and selected him to compete as an archer in the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.