A father speaks of his grief at service
THE dad of an army officer who was killed in Afghanistan has spoken of his enduring grief at a service in Cardiff.
Captain Stephen Healey was killed while serving his country in 2012.
His father, John Healey, attended a ceremony at Hafod’s Woodcroft Care Home in Rumney to read a poem in memory of his son.
“It gets easier but I will never get over it,” said the 67-year-old.
Mr Healey, from Rumney, said it was a pleasure to be invited to speak at the service for care home residents, many of whom either served in the armed forces or lost loved ones who did.
“There are little things that you remember all through the year,” he added. “I usually attend the service in the city centre, but there is something about this that makes it feel a bit more personal.”
The service was held to honour those who lost their lives in both world wars and all the conflicts since.
Capt Healey, from 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers), was the 344th member of the British armed forces to be killed in the Afghanistan war.
He was conducting a patrol in the north of the Nahr e Saraj district of Helmand province while on his second tour to Afghanistan when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. His parents received the devastating news of their son’s death shortly afterwards.
“I knew straight away when I heard that knock on the door what it was for,” Mr Healey added. “It was a Saturday night and me and my wife were getting ready to go out when we heard the knock. It was dreadful, it was the worst moment of my life.”
Before he entered the force as an officer in 2007, Capt Healey was a semi-professional footballer, having played for Swansea City for about three years before he suffered an injury that left him unable to play.
This year has been a particularly tough one for Mr Healey. He lost his wife Kerry in April after a short battle with cancer.
Friday’s service was attended by residents and their families as well as representatives from the armed forces.
The care home is involved in the Aged Veterans project, which has been supported by the Royal British Legion, and includes a drop-in session for older ex-service personnel at the Ely and Caerau Community Hub between 10am and 3pm.