By Peter Gordon Producer, When Our Boys Came Home

A total of 113 British troops have been killed in operations in Iraq since the war began in 2003. Many more have returned home injured.

Albert Thomson: Saddened by his new circumstances

In the first week of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Colour Sergeant Albert Thomson, of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, was part of a quick reaction force detailed to collect a seriously injured soldier.

On his way back to base, another British armoured vehicle opened fire on him.

He nearly died in the incident and one of his legs eventually had to be amputated.

Mr Thomson was able to return to work within three months, but soon realised that Army life would never be the same again, and he eventually opted for a medical discharge.

"You never think about coming back minus anything," he said.

"You either think about coming back or not coming back. Losing bits and pieces doesn't cross your mind."

The MoD should be doing more - when you turn to them for help, you're just a number Daniel Twiddy

Explaining the effect his disability had had, he goes on: "Trying to walk as naturally as possible is one of the major things... you've spent all your life doing anything you want.

"Now you are very limited. I've gone outside when it's windy and fallen over. It makes you wary about yourself and your surroundings, which is sad."

However, his wife Michelle praises his resilience: "He amazes me. He's so positive about everything. He never says never and he does what he does, and I'm proud of him."

Bitterness

Daniel Twiddy was a lance corporal in the Queens Royal Lancers as part of a battle group south of Basra when he was hit by friendly fire, which claimed the lives of two of his colleagues and injured another.

Daniel Twiddy: Disappointed by inquest findings

He suffered serious facial injuries, burns and shrapnel wounds to his body, and the loss of hearing in his left ear.

"You can't hear, you can't see... you've got bits of flesh hanging off your body. For people to say you're going to be all right, it's hard to believe them," he says.

He was medically discharged from the Army in 2005 and, when the inquest into the incident found no-one was to blame, was left bitterly disappointed.

He is quick to stress that his bitterness is not directed towards his regiment, which he describes as having been "brilliant".

But he says that reading the inquest papers, he cannot believe that no-one is to blame "for killing two people and ending two people's careers".

"The MoD should be doing more - when you turn to them for help you're just a number. I'm not Lance Corporal Twiddy, I'm just a number."

Flashbacks

The injuries sustained by Richard Turner were very different.

Richard Turner: Described a feeling of being "hung out to dry"

He was a newly promoted company sergeant major in the Royal Marines when he was sent to join the invasion of Iraq.

When he returned home, he could not forget the images of war and, plagued by flashbacks, he suffered a nervous breakdown.

"I used to hate putting on my uniform. The thought of it made me cringe," he says.

He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and later medically discharged.

"I wanted to end my career in the normal fashion.

"I found myself being discharged from a career I really loved, as a number not a person. It was a feeling of being hung out to dry."

Since his discharge he has been unable to re-train or work, but his condition is slowly improving.

When Our Boys Came Home will be broadcast on Thursday 1 June 2006 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.