'I see a lot more of my grandchildren than I saw my children', says Rutland veteran
A new poll of UK veterans has revealed the majority of ex-forces members say they missed life-changing family events, like the birth of their child, the death of a relative or attending a wedding.
Last updated 29th Feb 2024
It's thought veterans in Peterborough, Stamford and Rutland could be closer with their grandchildren now than they were with their own children when they were serving.
A huge poll of over 11,000 UK veterans has also revealed 40% of ex-forces members have expressed regret over the family times they missed while serving.
Almost 2 in 3 (62%) said that, while in active service, they had missed life-changing or major family events like the birth of their child, the death of a relative or attending a wedding.
However, over a third (37%) agreed that now they were out of the military, spending time with family is helping to make up for lost time.
The data, collated by the Defence Discount Service, shows half of veterans admit having better relationships with their grandkids than with their children when they were at that age, because of time spent away on tours.
Veteran and Chairman of the Rutland branch of the Royal British Legion, Adam Lowe, said it's something he's experienced, and he fears current serving personnel are having to spend more time away than they used to.
'I saw less of my children, and I see a lot more of my own grandchildren now. That is hard, but I think it applies to a lot of other careers as well. You make sacrifices.
'My daughter serves in the military, and she's just about to go on a four month tour in the middle-east. That means she'll have to arrange childcare and her partner and her children are going to be without that support.
'She's fortunate because she's in the Royal Air Force, but I do know because of the reduced numbers in the military - we've got a smaller army for instance - the serving personnel are probably having to do more tours, more often....
...so they're probably having less family time. I do believe it is harder for families.'