Memories 'haunted' war veteran

A former Welsh Guardsman killed himself because Remembrance Day brought back memories of war, an inquest was told.

Stephen Rawlins, 38, suffered nightmares after serving in the Gulf War, Falklands and Bosnia.

His family revealed the annual service of remembrance brought back terrible memories of events.

Mr Rawlins could not deal with another remembrance service and hanged himself at his home, the opening of an inquest hearing was told.

His father David Rawlins, 62, said: "He was always the same this time of year in the run up to Armistice Day.

He would sometimes sit through the night with his mum telling her of the terrible sights he had to cope with

David Rawlins

"It weighed on his mind but he mainly kept his feelings to himself.

"On the day he died he had been in the house all day on his own. I think things just got to much for him in the end."

Mr Rawlins, of Caerphilly, south Wales, was aged 20 when he was sent to the Falkland Islands in 1982.

He lost many friends when the Sir Galahad was hit by an Argentine bomb at Bluff Cove.

Stephen went on to fight in the Gulf War and also witnessed suffering in Bosnia during his 17 years in the army.

He was discharged from service six years ago after suffering from health problems, which he blamed on Gulf War Syndrome.

Stephen was one of our bravest and our best.

Simon Weston, Falklands War veteran

His father added: "Stephen blamed the injection the troops were given in the Gulf to resist Iraqi nerve gas for many of his problems.

"The horrors Stephen witnessed in the Gulf War left a lasting impression on him.

"When he left there was no after-care for him. He was left to suffer on his own. He had a raw deal.

"He would sometimes sit through the night with his mum telling her of the terrible sights he had to cope with."

But Megan Rawlins, 58, died six months ago.

'Badly hurt inside'

Fellow Welsh Guardsman and Falklands veteran Simon Weston said he cried when he was told about Mr Rawlin's death.

Mr Weston was badly burned when the Sir Galahad was bombed at Bluff cove.

He said: "Stephen was one of our bravest and our best.

"He served in the horror zones of the Falklands, the Gulf and Bosnia and was left alone, abandoned and badly hurt inside.

"Armistice Day has enough dead heroes - we should not have allowed the loss of another in peacetime."

Police have investigated Stephen's death and ruled out foul play. A full inquest will be held later.