A poignant occasion as armed forces veterans step out for funds
A GROUP of veterans are walking from Scotland back to their native Northern Ireland this weekend to raise funds for a charity which supports former members of the armed forces and their families.
Members of Beyond the Battlefield Memorial Walkers set out in the early hours of yesterday morning from Edinburgh Castle for the three-day walk.
Beyond the Battlefield looks after the well-being of the ex-service community in both parts of the island of Ireland who suffer with a variety of symptoms and problems related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The eight walkers hope to finish in Newtownards on Monday where they will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in memory of fallen comrades.
Bill Anderson, one of the veterans, explained: “Our team are all volunteers who wish to help raise the awareness of The Beyond the Battlefield Charity and the work that they do for our veterans and their families in times of need.
“The charity helps our veterans and their families through such things from PTSD to benefits and pension issues plus many, many more things.
“We have lost too many of our veterans and serving military due to PTSD and they have been let down by the system.”
This is the third year that the veterans have taken on the challenge, but this year’s event will be particularly poignant.
One of their team, Bill Elwood from Belfast, died in February and his former comrades have chosen to complete this year’s walk in his memory.
“Bill was down to walk with us but unfortunately he lost his battle against PTSD earlier this year,” explained Bill.
“His wife Lauren has sent some of his ashes with us to be scattered in Edinburgh so that he can be with us at the start of our journey in spirit.”
Lauren, who along with her daughter Kelsi will join the veterans on the final leg of their walk from Stormont to Ards, said: “The fact that the walkers are doing this in memory of Bill is greatly appreciated and he would be proud of them all. “He is with them in spirit.” The 130-mile walk is being led by Eric Larkin, who served in the Light Infantry.
He will be walking with other veterans representing the Royal Tank Regiment, Welsh Guards, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Engineers and the UDR.
Eric said: “As a veterans charity, Beyond the Battlefield doesn’t charge for any service it carries out for its members and relies completely on grants, donations and fundraising activities.
“It’s a great cause and Northern Ireland veterans are basically being forgotten about due to the Armed Forces Covenant not being honoured here.”
The military covenant represents Britain’s duty of care to its armed forces in return for sacrifices made in the line of duty.
There are around 150,000 former military personnel in Northern Ireland.
Former Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan, who was this week appointed as Northern Ireland’s first veterans commissioner, has pledged to champion the interests of ex-servicemen and women and ensure “promises made to them in the Armed Forces Covenant are fulfilled”.
The veterans have set up a Justgiving page for those who want to support their walk.
Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beyondthebattlefieldmemorialwalk