A Falklands veteran who twice attempted to take his own life while suffering post-traumatic stress disorder has found hope again as a Chelsea Pensioner. Former Royal Artillery Regiment soldier David, 68, struggled to adjust after more than 40 years in the Army and turned to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in his darkest hour 16 months ago.
Since wearing the iconic scarlet uniform, David has been privileged to march on the Cenotaph in Whitehall twice, including on Sunday, to honour the fallen and those who still serve. He described it as humbling and an absolute honour to take part as a comrade in an institution which he credits with saving his life.
Coming Home to the Royal Hospital
David said: "We all belong to a new regiment now and that's the Chelsea Pensioners. It's like coming home.
"Life before the Royal Hospital was dark. I was desperately lonely… now I've got new friends. I did karaoke for the first time ever the other day!"
Revealing he sang Abba's Thank You for the Music and I'm Gonna be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers, he added: "If you are going to do it you might as well go big… I think alcohol helped."
Karaoke isn't his only new interest at the hospital – David, who lost part of his left leg to sepsis, is also keen on the seated ballet classes and bat-spotting lessons.
Marching on the Cenotaph
He was among the 30 Pensioners chosen each year for the Cenotaph Parade, which is attended by around 10,000 veterans, the King and Prince William, and this year, a record nine former prime ministers alongside Andy Burnham.
David, whose family have served in the military since the Boer War, added: "Humbling is a very good word to describe how it feels, it's an absolute honour to be there in a scarlet."
He joked those taking part in a wheelchair like himself "only caught the ankles twice" of the officer leading this year's march.
A Community of Comradeship
Fellow Pensioner Paul, 68, moved to the hospital in 2024 after serving in the Royal Artillery. He now works as a tour guide at the 66-acre West London site, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, which has been in operation for 234 years.
Today there are around 300 Chelsea Pensioners, who carry out around 230 official engagements a year. The oldest resident is 104, one of eight Second World War veterans living at the Thames-side landmark. As well as bat spotting and karaoke, other activities on offer include walking rugby and cricket, non-contact boxing, tai chi, bingo and curry and quiz nights.
The pensioners dine in the stunning Great Hall which sits opposite the baroque Wren Chapel, where former prime minister Margaret Thatcher used to attend services. The breathtaking chapel is open to the public on Sundays.
Paul, who joined David on the march on Sunday, will be at the London Stock Exchange today as part of its Remembrance service.
He said: "We're commemorating the people that have gone before us that didn't make it home. My grandfather served in the Middle East in the First World War and came home with malaria. My father was on HMS Ark Royal when it was scuttled. Speaking to them many years ago, they lost so many friends.
"Of course, there are all the guys that I served with who are no longer here. It means such a lot that we remember them."
He believes it is also important to embrace life, which can be a joy among the former servicemen and women. Paul said: "The banter is just terrific and it doesn't stop. Being a soldier you tended to do some very stupid things."
"And still do," says David.
Paul added that the hospital, where the average age is 81, is like "a family". "We've got this unwritten rule if you're walking around you don't ignore the person, you greet them, it's an unwritten rule but it's really nice. You just don't ignore anybody," he said.
Outreach and Remembrance
Although the Royal Hospital is run for British Army veterans, Paul and David said there was a tri-service outreach programme which worked across all the branches of the armed forces.
David continued: "The scarlet coat is important to the whole veteran community, so although we are single service, the in-pensioners here are all ex-Army, we are tri-service in our outreach which is absolutely the right thing to do, everybody can suffer.
"There is no hierarchy of suffering, and the outreach is a truly fantastic thing."
Simply walking down the street in the recognisable uniform can be enough to help some people, Paul revealed.
"It's quite amazing how many people come up and say 'can I gave a chat' who have served," he said, "And they may have had a few problems, in which case I say let's go sit on a park bench and you can talk to me about it."
Looking to the next generation, the Chelsea Pensioners are involved in school visits and helping youngsters understand the sacrifice of servicemen and women. David joked that sometimes the veterans had fun with some of the questions asked by the children.
In one instance a child declared he knew what the RH insignia, which means Royal Hospital, stood for on the black hats, known as shakos, worn by the pensioners.
He added: "I was talking to someone the other day who had been to a school and a little boy said 'I know what the RH stands for' in the letters on our hats. The boy said it stood for Royal Highness… and as quick as a flash one of the pensioners joked 'and you're supposed to bow'. They even banter with the children."
A spokesperson for the Royal Hospital Chelsea said: "Remembrance is at the heart of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
"It is a time to honour those who served and sacrificed, while recognising the veterans who are part of our community today. As the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, the Royal Hospital provides more than care. It provides comradeship, belonging and a place to call home.
"At the Royal Hospital Chelsea, we rely on donations, grants and public support to continue that work.
"This Remembrance, support the Chelsea Pensioners and help ensure Army veterans have the care, comradeship and community they deserve, now and for generations to come."
