'I left for the Iraq war days after birth of son'

An army veteran has recalled to the BBC his mixed emotions being sent to the Iraq war - days after his son was born.

Chris Brogan, from Aylesford in Kent, said he was excited to be deployed with the Royal Corps of Signals in 2009, but it had been "incredibly difficult".

He was speaking after the Royal British Legion (RBL) announced a national event to mark 15 years since the conflict ended.

"I had only just met my son," the 45-year-old said. "I was really concerned about missing those really important first moments of his life."

He said he and his wife Angela had moved to Germany with their three other children a fortnight before he was called up.

"We did not know anybody," he said.

"It was always in the back of my mind how she was going to cope in a strange county, with no friends or family".

Brogan, who joined the army when he was 16, said he was excited to see "some action" when he was deployed.

But he said he also had "mixed feelings".

He said he could only come home for a fortnight every six months.

But he said he had the honour of transmitting the final combat message out of Iraq when British troops pulled out in 2011.

He added he was diagnosed with complex cumulative post-traumatic stress disorder after he left the armed forces.

"Witnessing the humanitarian suffering, dismembered bodies, being subjected to daily mortar and rocket attacks, and being shot at, all took their toll on me both mentally and physically," Brogan said.

He added he and the other troops had to sleep in what they called "coffins", which he described as brick rectangles with a mattress inside and steel-plated screen to keep them safe from explosions.

RBL director general Mark Atkinson said: "We will be paying tribute to the 179 British personnel who lost their lives, recognising the never-ending loss of those they left behind."

The RBL is hosting a daytime commemorative event at at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, on 22nd May.

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