I was left so traumatised by Iraq War that I tried to jump out of a window

Veterans have told how they still live with the devastating effects of the Iraq War 15 years after the end of the US-led invasion.

Some 46,000 British troops were deployed as part of Operation TELIC in March 2003 in what was the largest mobilisation since the Second World War. 

Around 10,000 were reservists from the Territorial Army, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment.

Chris Brogan, 45, from Kent, was deployed with the Royal Corps of Signals just three days after the birth of his son and suffers from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He said: “I have both good and bad memories from Iraq – a highlight being transmitting the final combat message out of Iraq, prior to the handover. However, 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, with the PTSD, and physically – my hearing loss resulting in the need for hearing aids at the age of 45. These have had a profound impact on my life."

The Royal British Legion (RBL) is holding a service of commemoration on May 22 at the National Memorial Arboretum - exactly 15 years after the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces.

It will pay tribute to those who served and recognise and honour the 179 British Armed Forces personnel who were killed and 6,000 who were injured.

The US-led coalition forces initiated the invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003. The Iraqi government and military collapsed within three weeks and by the beginning of April coalition forces occupied much of Iraq.

When Baghdad fell on April 9, marked symbolically by the toppling of tyrant Saddam Hussein’s statue, he fled and his government was overthrown.

On December 13, 2003, he was captured by American forces hiding in a hole in the ground near Tikrit. 

He was executed by hanging on the first day of Eid ul-Adha on December 30, 2006.

In the years that followed the invasion until the operation's conclusion in May 2011 violence escalated as a growing insurgency developed into sectarian conflict. British personnel, alongside coalition partners and Iraqi colleagues, faced constant threats including roadside bombs, snipers and rocket attacks, both on patrol and in barracks.

Army veteran John Devlin, 36, from Liverpool, was 18 when he deployed with 2 Lancs (Kings) Regiment. 

He said: “It was torture, the worst experience of my life, I was only a young boy. I remember a mate from my regiment got killed just before I was due to land, and he’d only been there four days.”

John was part of a search team looking for Improvised Explosive Devices as part of a Quick Reaction Force. 

He said: “We were sent to recover a broken-down vehicle when a sniper hit me, leaving me with a six-inch scar across my shoulder. An inch to the left or a few inches lower would have been fatal.”

Life didn’t get easier after he left the Army and John said: “I’d started having flashbacks and nightmares, one was so real I tried to jump out of a window. I went to the RBL for an assessment, and they sent me to a doctor who diagnosed me in less than an hour: severe PTSD. I started getting help then, because I was literally about to die. 

“I still struggle to face Remembrance Day, but I know the RBL’s event in May will be really special – being together with others who have similar experiences and understand what we all went through gives me comfort.” 

The Iraq War is widely considered a major failure for then prime minister Sir Tony Blair, driven by flawed intelligence and inadequate postwar planning.

Sir Tony insists he acted in good faith, but the conflict damaged his legacy, undermined public trust, and failed to achieve its key objectives, resulting in significant regional instability. 

Today the RBL still supports many Iraq veterans living with the horrors of the conflict.

Mark Atkinson, Director General of the RBL, said: “The Legion is proud to be bringing our community together on the 15th anniversary of the end of Operation TELIC, to remember the service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces and their families during and after the Iraq conflict.

“We will be paying tribute to the 179 British personnel who lost their lives, recognising the never-ending loss of those they left behind. We will also be recognising the lasting impact the Iraq War has had on veterans and their families, particularly those who came back with life-changing injuries and trauma.

“This is an opportunity for people to come together. Experiences of modern conflict, such as Iraq, can be complex and difficult to talk about, and many people are only just coming to us now for help. The RBL is here to provide life-long support to the Armed Forces Community, whatever the need, whenever it’s needed.” 

*Veterans, service personnel, families and the bereaved can register their interest to attend the event by visiting rbl.org.uk by April 12.