Sent into combat in Iraq at 18... a suicide case 11 years later
THE youngest soldier to be sent to Iraq killed himself after the horrors of war left him feeling “pretty much useless”, an inquest has heard.
The body of Kevin Williams, 29, who deployed on his 18th birthday, was discovered by police near his home in Basildon, Essex, in March. He had struggled to adjust to civilian life after he left the Army seven years ago.
Caroline Beasley-murray, the Essex coroner, said: “I have come to the very, very sad conclusion that Kevin intended to take his own life.”
Jennifer Williams, his sister, revealed in a statement handed to the coroner that the suicide was not unexpected. “Kevin’s death was a shock to us all and despite the pain of a great loss, we feel it would not be classed as a surprise,” she said.
Mr Williams deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic 9, which saw some of the toughest fighting and involved 46,000 personnel at its peak. He had signed up when he was 16 after being inspired by watching soldiers on television, but he was discharged from the Army after failing a drugs test, aged 22.
After leaving he found it difficult to adapt to civilian life and talked of joining the Foreign Legion because he missed combat.
In a short documentary recorded before his death, he said: “Returning to civilian life was a big shock. The skills I learnt, especially being in the infantry regiment, were all combat-based. I was pretty much useless. Coming back from Iraq I just felt sad all the time. I lost a friend out there and I didn’t really grieve till I got back. I didn’t know how to handle normal everyday tasks.”
Mr Williams believed he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He reportedly suffered flashbacks and relatives said he would often talk about the war. His sister Katherine said: “A loud noise could go off and then you could see his mind shut down. All he could talk about then was the war.”
The ex-soldier was being helped by the charity Combat Stress before his death. Sue Freeth, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Every veteran’s death is a tragedy, and our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr Williams’s family.”
Provision of mental health support to veterans has been criticised recently by Johnny Mercer, the ex-army MP.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph earlier this month, the former Army officer said: “Some charities have gone way too far in painting the picture of veterans in the UK for their own ends, to raise money.”
He said charities advocate a narrative that “veterans are mad, bad and dangerous”. He felt the public perception of the military is: “You’re either a hero, or you’re broken. Ninety-five per cent of us are in the middle.”
Commenting after the death of Mr Williams, the Ministry of Defence said: “We are committed to tackling the stigma of mental health, and have launched our mental health and wellbeing strategy to improve our mental health services ... we have spent £20million this year on mental health services and encourage anyone who is suffering to come forward to access the care and help that they deserve.”
‘Returning to civilian life was a big shock. The skills I learnt … were all combat-based. I was pretty much useless’