Latest news with #HelpForHeroes
Metro
4 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Soldier was 'degraded' by superior officers before being found dead in barracks
A British soldier was 'humiliated' and 'degraded' by superior officers before he was found dead in his barracks, an inquest has heard. Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan's decomposing body was found in his bedroom at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on January 23, 2020 – three weeks after he was last seen. An inquest at North Yorkshire Coroner's Court has heard his cause of death is still 'unascertained' as decomposition made it difficult for doctors to determine. One of L/Cpl Mongan's friends, former corporal Stephen Timmerman, told the hearing his friend 'wasn't treated the same' as other soldiers in their squadron. He told the hearing: 'They spoke to Bernie as if he was inconsequential,' adding that he had been spoken to 'like a piece of shit' and 'degraded'. Mr Timmerman described L/Cpl Mongan, 33, as a 'cuddly teddy bear' who may have been a 'soft target' because he was 'a nice guy who took things easier'. He told the inquest L/Cpl Mongan had issues with two sergeants and was 'undermined' and 'come down on very harshly', saying he had been considering a service complaint. Asked if he was bullied, Mr Timmerman said: 'I would say that was an understatement.' He said: 'He was given tasks that he shouldn't have been given, and just the general way he was spoken to by higher ranks. 'His seniors, quite a few times, he would be left to do their work for them in his own time.' Mr Timmerman said he could remember three occasions when L/Cpl Mongan was given a military Land Rover to clean that was not his. He said that on a military exercise around three months before his death, L/Cpl Mongan was 'shouted and screamed at' in front of other soldiers by his own superior officers in his own department for carrying out an order from another department. Mr Timmerman, who has since retired from the Army, said: 'It was very aggressive, very abrupt, some swearing … It was very harsh language and it wasn't his fault, he was carrying out an order he was told to do.' Asked if he was aware one officer 'had been posting videos on a WhatsApp group of humiliations of Bernie', Mr Timmerman said: 'I didn't know about that.' The hearing was told L/Cpl Mongan had separated from his wife and spent Christmas at another soldier's house. L/Cpl Mongan had tried to kill himself several times and spent time at a recovery centre run by Help For Heroes, the court heard. More Trending Former Royal Marine Jules Burnard, who struck up a friendship with him when they met at the facility, said he had last seen L/Cpl Mongan on January 1, 2020, and that he had been 'very positive' and looking forward to the detachment. Mr Burnard said L/Cpl Mongan had opened up to him about being bullied, and how that had affected his mental health. He told the hearing: 'He was a loveable, likeable, upbeat person. There was nothing not to like about Bernie.' The inquest, which is scheduled to last for three weeks, continues. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: I'd enlist to fight in a war – even as a 'woke' millennial MORE: Police officer died 'after being struck by train while helping man on railway' MORE: Deaf woman, 25, who took her own life was 'failed' by mental health services
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset veteran appeals for Help for Heroes volunteers
An RAF veteran who damaged his neck while playing rugby is appealing for people to volunteer for an armed forces charity that helped him when he "most needed it". Dave Anderson, 54, who lives in Somerset, served for nine years as an RAF technician, and was supported by Help For Heroes following the accident to get into wheelchair rugby, which he said has improved his physical and mental health. Now he is helping the charity appeal for more volunteers. Mr Anderson said: "Help for Heroes was there for me when I most needed it. It's really been a lifeline for me... but it needs to recruit more volunteers so it can support more men and women who have served." Mr Anderson was left with weakness and loss of feeling in his right arm and hand, and constant pain in his neck. He also has two fused being introduced to wheelchair rugby through the charity, Mr Anderson has helped with the creation of the charity's wheelchair rugby team and had the chance to play in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup for Scotland."I know personally what a valuable job Help for Heroes does," he said. The charity is currently supporting 85 veterans across Somerset and said it is trying to bring more people on board as it expands its reach in local said it is looking for volunteers who can help with the running of its cafes, sports activities, social activities and Anderson said: "There are more than 43,200 veterans living in the Somerset area and, if we can recruit people who are able to give a couple of hours a week, the charity can do more for local people." According to the charity, on average, five people are medically discharged from the UK military every day. Some veterans must find new ways to live with a physical disability, others face complex mental trauma and many feel cut off from society, friends, even family.A Help for Heroes spokesperson said: "We are currently supporting more than 4,000 veterans across the UK. "By recruiting more local volunteers - either to help us provide services such as sports and social activities, or to help with local fundraising activities –-we can grow our offering and provide more support."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RAF veteran calls on volunteers to support charity
An RAF veteran is appealing for volunteers to "give a couple of hours per week" to support men and women who have served in the military. David Morris, from Sleaford, who had a non-flying role in the Red Arrows, was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in 2011. The 45-year-old said the charity Help for Heroes had been a "lifeline" and, if it had more recruits, it could help more veterans. Activities provided by the charity include wheelchair basketball, archery, rowing and creative writing for veterans and their families. The charity said it hoped to expand its drop-in cafe social sessions. The charity's team of advisors provides 125 veterans in Lincolnshire with clinical, mental health and welfare support. Mr Morris competed in swimming and indoor rowing events at the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018 and was vice-captain of Team UK for the delayed 2020 Games at The Hague in 2022. He said the charity helps veterans connect with each other and their communities through sports and social activities. "These activities can be an important part of recovery and the charity wants to expand this activity in Lincolnshire but to do this it's going to need volunteers," Mr Morris said. "Help for Heroes was there for me when I most needed it. It's really been a lifeline for me and thousands of other veterans." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Mum and daughter to paraglide for charity Help for Heroes
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RAF veteran calls on volunteers to support charity
An RAF veteran is appealing for volunteers to "give a couple of hours per week" to support men and women who have served in the military. David Morris, from Sleaford, who had a non-flying role in the Red Arrows, was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in 2011. The 45-year-old said the charity Help for Heroes had been a "lifeline" and, if it had more recruits, it could help more veterans. Activities provided by the charity include wheelchair basketball, archery, rowing and creative writing for veterans and their families. The charity said it hoped to expand its drop-in cafe social sessions. The charity's team of advisors provides 125 veterans in Lincolnshire with clinical, mental health and welfare support. Mr Morris competed in swimming and indoor rowing events at the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018 and was vice-captain of Team UK for the delayed 2020 Games at The Hague in 2022. He said the charity helps veterans connect with each other and their communities through sports and social activities. "These activities can be an important part of recovery and the charity wants to expand this activity in Lincolnshire but to do this it's going to need volunteers," Mr Morris said. "Help for Heroes was there for me when I most needed it. It's really been a lifeline for me and thousands of other veterans." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Mum and daughter to paraglide for charity Help for Heroes
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
RAF veteran calls on volunteers to support charity
An RAF veteran is appealing for volunteers to "give a couple of hours per week" to support men and women who have served in the military. David Morris, from Sleaford, who had a non-flying role in the Red Arrows, was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in 45-year-old said the charity Help for Heroes had been a "lifeline" and, if it had more recruits, it could help more provided by the charity include wheelchair basketball, archery, rowing and creative writing for veterans and their families. The charity said it hoped to expand its drop-in cafe social sessions. The charity's team of advisors provides 125 veterans in Lincolnshire with clinical, mental health and welfare support. Mr Morris competed in swimming and indoor rowing events at the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018 and was vice-captain of Team UK for the delayed 2020 Games at The Hague in said the charity helps veterans connect with each other and their communities through sports and social activities."These activities can be an important part of recovery and the charity wants to expand this activity in Lincolnshire but to do this it's going to need volunteers," Mr Morris said."Help for Heroes was there for me when I most needed it. It's really been a lifeline for me and thousands of other veterans." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
