Military Families 'Swept Under The Carpet'

Families of soldiers killed fighting for the British military have said the sacrifice of their loved ones should be acknowledged in the General Election.

A letter sent to the leaders of the main political parties by some 60 families said they had been "swept under the carpet" and asked for five pledges in their election manifestos.

Among their requests is a commitment to hold an Afghan inquiry and to give the next Defence Minister responsibility for bereaved families as part of their portfolio.

The letter also demands a review of the Armed Forces Covenant and military wills.

"We believe this is essential in demonstrating your commitment to those who have been prepared to lay down their lives for the greater good of our country," the letter reads.

"The families left behind and to future generations prepared to make those same selfless sacrifices as their commitment to our country and its people."

Lucy Aldridge's son William was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Rifleman Aldridge was the youngest British soldier to die in the conflict. She is one of the signatories.

"There is nobody there. There is no recognition that there is a lack of support and has been for decades. Successive governments have forgotten about us," she said.

"Because deaths in the military are so often sudden and violent, bereaved families can suffer from a very acute form of depression after the loss of their loved ones. We feel there is very little understanding of that from the authorities we turn to for help."

The group wants politicians to recognise that their situation is unique.

Julie Philips' husband Michael was the only British soldier killed in Sierra Leone.

She said: "We do need the support. It's not just about financial support. It's about having somebody there who can oversee and say right, these forces families have all been through the same thing.

"It doesn't matter if it is Iraq, Afghan, an accident, or suicide. If there was support there, then more families could come together."

Families of dead soldiers are often subject to intense media attention at the time. They have to watch the coffin return in a public repatriation which is often broadcast on television, and must attend an inquest into their death often months if not years after the event.

Many of them have created an informal forum on Facebook to share advice and support. There is no official Government or Military equivalent.

Unable to cope with her loss, Ms Aldridge attempted suicide in 2013.

"It isn't just our loved ones who serve, we serve too," she said.

"We're the ones pacing the floor when they're deployed. We're the ones concerned about getting that knock on the door, and when it does happen you hope there will be some long-term support to help you, and there just isn't.

"It feels like once a conflict is over and the publicity dies down, our loved ones are remembered on memorials but we're forgotten about and our concerns are swept under the carpet.

"We need to learn from past conflicts. I'm finding more families are coming up with the same issues and there just isn't anyone to represent us who can look at those issues and actually deal with them."

David Cameron has written to the families and promised the Conservatives will consider the suggestions for their forthcoming manifesto.

Ed Miliband has told Sky News that he will write to the families shortly.

"The whole country honours the memories of members of the Armed Forces who pay the ultimate sacrifice in defending us," he said.

"We must also honour bereaved families who must live with the grief of having lost a son or daughter, father or mother, husband or wife.

"We are very grateful for the proposals put forward by Bereaved Military Families Support UK. We will examine them in detail and respond to the specific suggestions."