Give Nathan a fitting tribute
Army chief backs hero’s honour
EXCLUSIVE THE family campaigning for a proper honour for tragic soldier Nathan Hunt are being backed by the Army’s former head.
Nathan’s parents want to add his name to the national Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire.
But the Ministry of Defence refuses – claiming his suicide and PTSD were not linked to his service.
Lord Dannatt has now told the Sunday People he was “saddened” by the family’s treatment and pledged to raise the issue in the House of Lords.
He said: “The first issue is to get the MOD to issue a clear policy and second to consider Nathan Hunt’s case fairly – and hopefully, favourably.”
Royal Engineers warrant officer Nathan served alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan in 2008.
Nathan received a Mention in Despatches for finding dozens of Taliban bombs and helped save many lives. His 23 years’ Army service included tours of Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland.
He was found hanged at his Lincoln home aged 39 on January 2, 2018. That year Lord Dannatt introduced Nathan’s parents to Prince Harry and Meghan.
Unfair
Last month Derek, 70, and Maria, 68, wrote to Harry asking for his support.
As we reported, the prince wrote a moving reply saying he would always remember Nathan as a hero but was unable to help after losing his Army titles.
Derek said: “I’m delighted General Dannatt has agreed to help us. It seems he also feels that the Mod’s decision is unfair.”
An ex-soldier himself, Derek claimed documents used by defence chiefs in the case contained errors.
He said: “The MOD are more interested in protecting their reputation than trying to find out why Nathan took his own life. I also think they are trying to trash his reputation by saying that Nathan suffered from alcohol abuse and that he was aggressive.
“Those comments refer to his first marriage which ended in 2003. He was never violent to his wife but the marriage was in trouble and like a lot of young men he thought the best way to deal with it was through drink. But to mention it in documents which were used to decide whether he should have his name added to the memorial seems very wrong.”