A TIDWORTH ex-serviceman battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) marched with thousands of other veterans who took part in the annual remembrance parade in London last weekend.

Former Royal Engineer, Bob McNab, was one of 40 former service personnel supported by Help for Heroes (H4H) chosen to join old comrades in the Cenotaph March Past.

Discharged from the Army in 1982, Bob was inspired to seek support from the military charity for his PTSD after watching an interview with a fellow veteran during previous Remembrance Sunday coverage.

Bob joined the Army in 1968 and, despite enjoying the challenges the military brought, a deployment to Northern Ireland in the 1970s was the catalyst that sent his life heading out of control.

He said: “Things went on there that ended up causing issues with my attitude, demeanour, mind and wellbeing.”

After being discharged from military service, Bob turned to alcohol as he struggled to accept how he was feeling until watching the remembrance interview prompted him to turn to H4H.

He continued: “I looked at him and said, ‘That’s me’, and that’s when I got help. I joined the H4H Band of Brothers fellowship for the wounded. I first thought it was for those who’d been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I was wrong. Now I’m getting offered all these things to help me march along on my recovery road.”

This is the first year that veterans supported by H4H have been invited to take part in the remembrance commemorations in Whitehall.

On behalf of the 40 ex-service personnel marching, H4H fellowship co-ordinator, Alan McCelland, said: “We are hugely grateful to The Royal British Legion for giving a Help for Heroes cohort the huge honour of taking part in this year’s Cenotaph March Past for the first time.

“Most of those marching will have lost colleagues during their service, but alongside the sadness is a palpable sense of pride at representing Help for Heroes, wearing their medals and military headdress again after leaving service, and being part of something incredibly special once more.”

H4H CEO Mel Waters added: “We know there are 200 medical discharges every month, and that there will be an ongoing and increasing need for support in the future.

“Therefore, it’s important we continue to work in partnership with other military charities such as The Royal British Legion, to support our veterans and their families, and to give a fair deal to all those affected by military service.”

The annual Cenotaph March Past is made up of British and Commonwealth former military and civilian Service Personnel to honour the fallen of the British Armed Forces involved in the two World Wars and all conflicts since.