Armed Forces Week: Comradeship continues at home for Army veterans

Ricky and Ewan, who live in Donnington, Telford, served for a combined total of more than 32 years in the Army, with careers that took them across the globe.

Between them, they spent time in parts of the world such as the Falklands, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq, Ireland and Brunai experiencing different cultures, forging lifelong friendships and developing skills that would stay with them long after retirement from the forces.

While both men look back fondly on their military careers, adjusting to civilian life brought about its own challenges.

After retiring from the forces, Ricky returned home to care for his father, Arthur, a former Army Sergeant. Following Arthur’s death in 2015, Ricky was supported by Housing Plus Group (HPG) to remain in the home, providing much-needed stability at a difficult time.

Ricky said: “Being able to remain in the house made a tough time much more manageable as I would’ve been homeless otherwise. As a veteran who spent most of my life serving in the Army, having a stable roof over my head made a huge difference to me and how I reintegrated back into civilian life.

“My father was very proud of his military service and was one of the reasons I joined the Army – we have a family connection with the Army spanning three generations. Losing my father was incredibly hard but being able to stay in the home made a huge difference when everything else felt uncertain.

“I remain forever grateful to the housing group for that – and have always found them to be a brilliant landlord.”

Another aspect of civilian life Ricky found challenging was navigating household bills, budgeting and setting up utilities. And over time, the difficulties mounted up – and he accumulated debts of around £12,000.

He said: “When you’re in the Army, not only do you have regimented routine and structure but also, although you pay your own essential living costs – you don’t notice them as they’re taken directly from what you’re paid.

“One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the concept of paying for each of the essentials and utilities – such as water, electricity, council tax, even paying for food.

“It felt like a whole different world to me and eventually, I was in over my head and in £12,000 of deep debt. Previously I’d served in the first Gulf War, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Afghan and Iraq – I could understand life in the Army but outside of it, I didn’t know where to begin on civvy street.

“I felt anxious and uncertain, and turned to religion for guidance, and it was then that I was made aware of a charity called Christians Against Poverty, and they helped me clear my debt.

“Now that’s behind me, I know that other veterans have similar struggles with managing finances because when you’re serving, you don’t have to think about that – more education and support is needed.”

A real turning point for Ricky came in 2020, when after striking up a friendship with Ewan due to their shared experience as veterans – he invited him to move into the property, and the pair became housemates, living with their energetic dachshund, Haggis.

Ewan said: “Even though we didn’t serve together, we’ve got a connection, which only those who have served can truly understand because we’ve had many similar experiences, we speak the same language. It’s more than family; it’s strong comradeship. We understand one another and look out for each other.

“Having a comfortable place to live makes such a difference to us veterans, it’s crucial for our mental health and wellbeing but also a linchpin to reacclimatising back into civilian life and belonging in a community outside of the forces.”

Sam Hine, Social Value and Inclusion Manager at Housing Plus Group, added: “We’re proud to support veterans living in our homes and communities.

“Ricky and Ewan’s story is a brilliant example of resilience, friendship and comradeship – one that we’re proud to share this Armed Forces Week. Their experiences demonstrate how important housing and support can be in helping navigate major life changes and build positive futures.”

Housing Plus Group is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant and will be at the Armed Forces Day events in Shrewsbury and Telford this weekend, they’re taking place:

• Saturday, June 27 from 11am – 3pm at Shrewsbury Castle
• And Sunday, June 28 from 11am – 5pm at Broadoaks Playing Fields in Telford.