Help for Heroes helps ex-Royal Navy Nurse 'live well' after serving in war zones
Remembrance Sunday will be particularly poignant for a former Royal Navy nurse living in Belfast this year – when she joins a 50-strong group to march past the Cenotaph in London.
Help For Heroes has been supporting Sue Warner in her retirement from nursing in some of the toughest war zones; Since then the 67-year old has taken up swimming, creative arts, and competed in international sports competitions for military veterans.
Sue has also has been invited to join a 50-strong group from Help for Heroes, when they march past the Cenotaph in London on Sunday 8 November.
She will be thinking about her great uncle who was killed in Palestine in 1917 and her grandmother who also served in the First World War.
And she will be joining 10,000 others from the veterans community, to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Audley Curson, who served in the First and Second World Wars, Sue joined the Queen Alexanda's Royal Naval Nursing Service in 1997.
She served in the Falklands conflict in 1982 and did two tours of Afghanistan, with first-hand experience of treating the wounded during these conflicts.
Her grandmother's brother Stanley Curson enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment in January 1916.
He was killed in Palestine in April 1917 at the age of 19, a year and 86 days after he enlisted.
Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire and a major battleground for the German-Ottoman forces and the British-led forces. He is buried in Gaza.
Sue moved to Belfast in 2012 when she married.
She said: "This will be my first time at the Cenotaph. I'll feel proud because I'll be representing Help for Heroes, and pride for my grandmother's contribution in the First and Second World Wars.
"But also, sadness when I think about my great-uncle – and the people I know who lost their lives, or have been wounded and still live with life-changing injuries as a result of their service."
She added: "In these increasingly turbulent times, it really matters that we never forget the brave men and women who have been killed or wounded in conflict and do everything we can to keep working towards peace. Remembrance gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on this."
Rob Marston, Service Director for Help for Heroes, added: “It's so important that we commemorate the men and women who lost their lives while serving our country - and at Help for Heroes we also remember those still fighting their own battles today.
“We remain at the side of veterans like Sue and their families who are struggling with painful injuries, mental trauma, isolation, and more – providing life-changing support for as long as it takes. That’s why it’s more important than ever that the public makes a promise to stand alongside our veterans to ensure they get the support they deserve.”
As part of her recovery after service, Sue learnt to swim with support from Help for Heroes.
Sue also took part in the Warrior Games in Virginia in 2015 and represented the United Kingdom at the Invictus Games in 2016, winning a bronze medal.
More recently she has been involved in a recovery programme that involves creative writing, dance and singing; and anyone wishing to see her talents can watch her performing 'Bring him home' at a Remembrance Service on Wednesday 11 November at St Mellan’s Parish Church, Loughbrickland.
And if that is not enough to keep her busy, the 67-year-old is also captain of a team that's taking part in the Belfast Marathon Relay in May next year.
Help for Heroes is British charity which supports veterans and their families with their physical and mental health, as well as welfare and social needs.