Post by Frenchie on Oct 20, 2009 0:10:36 GMT 1
WHEN Darren Ware returned from the bloodiest conflict in the past half-century, there was no hero's welcome.
The former soldier said: "It was very quiet when we came home. There were no banners or fanfare, no big welcome home. I got the impression that Northern Ireland had been forgotten about."
Darren had come home without his older brother Simon, one of 763 British military personnel to lose their lives during the Troubles.
Darren understands all too well the loss suffered by British troops.
In 1991 Simon, a 22-year-old newlywed serving with the Coldstream Guards, was killed by a 250lb bomb while on patrol in South Armagh.
Former Royal Green Jackets corporal Darren, 38, said: "He got married on the Saturday in March 1991 and was deployed on the Monday for a six-month operational tour.
"He had five days of leave with his wife. He was married for five months but spent no more than a week with her.
"I went back to Northern Ireland, to the scene where Simon died.
"I stood in the crater where he was killed. It was very emotional. It was all so peaceful.
"And even though it was 12 years later, the dip in the ground in the wood could still be seen."
Simon enlisted at 16, as did Darren two years later. Both felt a call of duty to fight terrorism in Northern Ireland.
And Darren was bent on continuing his important work following his brother's death.
He said: "I was determined to go back because I didn't want the IRA to get the better of me."
Darren remembers his brother in his book Rendezvous With The Enemy, which is due out in April next year.
Read More >>
The former soldier said: "It was very quiet when we came home. There were no banners or fanfare, no big welcome home. I got the impression that Northern Ireland had been forgotten about."
Darren had come home without his older brother Simon, one of 763 British military personnel to lose their lives during the Troubles.
Darren understands all too well the loss suffered by British troops.
In 1991 Simon, a 22-year-old newlywed serving with the Coldstream Guards, was killed by a 250lb bomb while on patrol in South Armagh.
Former Royal Green Jackets corporal Darren, 38, said: "He got married on the Saturday in March 1991 and was deployed on the Monday for a six-month operational tour.
"He had five days of leave with his wife. He was married for five months but spent no more than a week with her.
"I went back to Northern Ireland, to the scene where Simon died.
"I stood in the crater where he was killed. It was very emotional. It was all so peaceful.
"And even though it was 12 years later, the dip in the ground in the wood could still be seen."
Simon enlisted at 16, as did Darren two years later. Both felt a call of duty to fight terrorism in Northern Ireland.
And Darren was bent on continuing his important work following his brother's death.
He said: "I was determined to go back because I didn't want the IRA to get the better of me."
Darren remembers his brother in his book Rendezvous With The Enemy, which is due out in April next year.
Read More >>