South: The Nation remembers?

Chrissy Sturt Researcher, Politics Show South

Remembrance Sunday is a time when the nation pays respect to its service personnel, past and present.

Wreaths and crosses will be laid in churches across the South region and poppies worn with pride and dignity.

Tony and Cherie Blair buying poppies from Lionel Douglas Haig and Pam McInally

Last year, the Poppy Appeal raised £21.1m, helping the Royal British Legion provide vital welfare support for ex-service people.

Today the armed forces are on active duty in Iraq, and in many parts of the world.

Tony Blair has sent our troops into conflict five times in the last six years.

Do we do enough to ensure their welfare, both during conflict and on their return?

A case in point

Yanto Evans, a veteran of modern warfare, tells his story to the Politics Show South.

He served in the Falklands as a para and was on board the Sir Galahad when it was bombed.

It was there that he saw many of his comrades die.

He came home to be more or less forgotten, at least by the state.

Utterly unprepared for life out of uniform, his life went downhill.

Eventually, he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

He needed help controlling feelings of aggression and frustration, and assistance with his debts.

The Royal British Legion helped to get him back on his feet and make a fresh start.

Politics Show South is in the home of the British Army, Aldershot, to investigate.

Thousands of requests for help

Every year, the Legion receives 300,000 requests for help and support; financial, social and emotional.

Thousands of people leave the armed forces with their health permanently damaged.

Many men and women courageous in the face of battle suddenly feel unable to cope in civvy street.

The charity continually campaigns for those suffering from Gulf War Illness, and gives a voice to those eligible for war pensions.

They also argue for reform of Council Tax.

The need is great

We talk to senior members of the Royal British Legion, Britain's leading charity representing the interests, welfare and memory of ex-service people and their dependents.

At this time of year staff are braced for a surge in requests for help, following the high profile poppy campaign.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion, told Politics Show South;

We are asked to help with everything from housing repairs, to compensation for injuries suffered decades ago.

Although we are in decline compared to the days following WW2, we are still processing a huge number of claims.

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