The horror of Lockerbie is imprinted in my head
Army veteran Brian shares his story to urge others to seek help
An Army veteran, who was among the first soldiers on the scene of the Lockerbie disaster 34 years ago, is backing a Help for Heroes campaign this festive season by asking the public to write messages of hope and support to the Armed Forces community.
This time of the year can be difficult for Brian Brown, 55, who attended the aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing on December 21, 1988, which claimed the lives of 270 people, including 11 on the ground.
Brian recalls: “Everything was good. I was 21 and doing my dream job. Heading to the regimental Christmas dinner, I walked out of my barracks to see people running around in combats. Christmas dinner was cancelled. A plane had crashed in Lockerbie.
“I always remember arriving at Lockerbie. There was smoke everywhere, like a battle zone. We were in a wee cul-de-sac, where one of the engines had landed on a bus shelter. I’ve tried to make some sense of it, but there is none.
“It remains imprinted in my head. To this day, Christmas can be a difficult time.”
Brian, who grew up in Glasgow, served in the first Gulf War, Northern Ireland, Belize and Canada with the First Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers.
After 13 years in the Army, injuries from a bomb blast led to Brian’s medical discharge.
A decade later, he discovered his experiences had left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Then, about nine years ago, I found Help for Heroes,” said Brian, who now lives Edinburgh.
“Walking into a room filled with other people who had a shared experience was incredible.
“It finally made me feel understood and less alone.
“From simply offering me a cup of coffee and a smile, to getting me the mental health support I needed, Help for Heroes have been a constant in my life, and it’s reassuring to know they are always there when I need them.”
Brian added: “To anyone in the Armed Forces community feeling isolated, you are not alone. You may feel like nobody understands you, or like there’s no hope on the horizon. Loneliness isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Hopefully, by sharing my experiences, you’ll realise it’s okay to ask for help. You just need to find the strength to ask for it.”
A recent Yougov survey showed 70,000 veterans are lonely all the time and, as others are having fun with those they love over the festive period, the pain of missing out deepens.
Help for Heroes’ veterans and families survey 2022 found that the mental health of veterans with long-term health conditions has declined in the last 12 months amid concerns about the cost of living, difficulty coping with news coverage of recent conflicts and experiences of loneliness.
Its findings help the charity to better understand the needs of the Armed Forces community living with health conditions – and to shape its services now and in the future.
This year’s stark results can explain the higher demand Help for Heroes has been seeing for several initiatives it is currently delivering to help the Armed
Forces community to live well in the current climate.
The survey revealed that 85 per cent of veterans living with longterm health conditions say they struggle with their mental health every day, compared with 73 per cent in 2021.
The study also found that 82 per cent of veteran respondents with long-term health conditions are worried about the cost of living, with one in eight having used a food bank in the last 12 months.
More than half of respondents (51 per cent) say news coverage
this winter due to the cost-ofliving crisis, Help for Heroes has launched ‘The Greatest
Gift’ campaign, encouraging people to give one simple free thing this Christmas – the gift of words.
By gathering and sharing these messages, Help for Heroes aims to show veterans like Brian that they are not alone this Christmas and New Year, and that practical support is available.
●To leave a message of support to veterans across the country this Christmas, visit helpforheroes. celebrationpage.org/ greatestgift
To anyone in the Armed Forces community feeling isolated, you are not alone. It’s okay to ask for help