‘There’s something about this service that’s more personal...’
Lydia Stephens speaks to John Healy, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, during a Remembrance service in Cardiff
THE father of an army officer who was killed in Afghanistan has spoken of his enduring grief at a service in Cardiff ahead of Remembrance Day.
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 around three years before he suffered an injury that left him unable to play.
Every year the football team that Capt Healey played for as a child holds a football match in his honour.
“He always wanted to be a soldier, first of all he wanted to be a footballer but when that didn’t work out he went to Swansea University and went straight into the army as an officer, and he loved it.
“I remember when we went to Sandhurst on his Posting Out Parade, one of the Sergeants said to me then ‘your boy will have no problem at all because he could get on with anyone.’
“He was one of the boys. He loved being a soldier, and I could never have told him any different.
“But, looking back now, the war should never have happened.”
This year has been a particularly tough one for Mr Healey. He lost his wife, Kerry Healey, in April after a short battle with cancer.
Yesterday’s service – coming ahead of tomorrow’s Remembrance Sunday and Monday’s Armistice Day commemorations – was attended by residents and their families as well as representatives from the armed forces.
Irene Morgan, the care home’s activities co-ordinator, wanted to give thanks to residents who served in the forces.
Among those attending was 93-year-old veteran Audrey Drew.
Ms Drew served in the Navy during the Second World War.
“I still have my uniform, my Navy skirt, they let us keep it,” she said.
“My husband was a paratrooper and he was lucky to survive the war as he got shot.”
Pointing at two young soldiers who attended the service, she added: “When I see a soldier I think of my husband.”
The moving ceremony was supported by Change Step, a charity that provides emotional support to veterans and their families.
“I feel it is giving back to those who did so much for us,” said Mrs Morgan.
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.