Combat Stress 100

We would like to say a huge thank you to all the veterans, Combat Stress staff and family members who came to be interviewed at venues across the country for the Combat Stress 100 film. A special thanks goes to the eight veteran volunteers who came forward to train with Age Exchange and became the heart of our interview team and camera crew. Without you, there would have been no project.

Together we have filmed 73 interviews and have over 50 hours of film footage. The interview questions created by veterans and Combat Stress focussed on: why veterans joined up, basic training, service and combat experience, trauma-related incidents, the transition from military to civilian life, and the treatment and support veterans have received from Combat Stress.

We have edited the material down to a one-hour feature documentary. We want to say how grateful we are to you for so courageously sharing your story with us. Every veteran we interviewed expressed a determination that by sharing their story it would help veterans and their families in future years – and would also help destigmatise PTSD and all mental health conditions. We will do everything we can to ensure that is exactly how your interviews are used now and in the future.

So where have we got to at this halfway point in the project? The film Combat Stress 100 premiered at National Museums Liverpool across Armistice weekend with three screenings. We were delighted and a bit overwhelmed by the response from the veterans and family members they brought along: “Watching this, I feel I finally understand my brother. Thank you”, “This needs to be seen right across the country, how you gonna do that?”. Thanks to Pete, a Merseyside veteran and volunteer, and Combat Stress CEO Sue Freeth who supported the screenings and took part in the audience Q&A afterwards.

The film has also been shown in South London at Merton Heritage Centre and Bentley Priory Museum, as well as to Combat Stress staff at Tyrwhitt House, Audley Court and Hollybush House.

More screenings are planned throughout 2020 including the University of Birmingham, The National Army Museum, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Leeds Rhinos RFC, St Helens RFC and Tyne & Wear Museums. We are talking to museums and venues in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland about screenings there too.

Please be assured that everyone who was interviewed will receive a copy of their interview. This will take some time as we have to export 73 interviews and reformat and edit any glitches. We are getting to it and will aim to ensure you all have your interview by March.

We’re now working with Combat Stress on six podcasts to be broadcast in May around Mental Health Awareness Week. Each podcast will focus on a theme from the original interviews and will include veterans who aren’t currently featured in the one-hour documentary.

We’ll also soon start working with four secondary schools whose students will learn about Combat Stress. They will have the opportunity to meet veterans and hear their stories. The students will then create visual art, film, song, dance or a spoken presentation in response to what they have learned. These will be shown at a special Combat Stress day at the National Army Museum in London in May 2020.

That’s it for now. Thank you, everyone, for taking part and for all the amazing support you have given my team. We’ll be in touch soon.

• Combat Stress 100 film screenings