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Matthew Tresidder, 59, will march alongside 10,000 others during the Cenotaph Service on Remembrance Sunday as part of the largest ever group of veterans supported by Help for Heroes to attend.
Matthew's 30-year military career included tours in Germany, UK, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan and he was responsible for introducing the Army camouflage worn today. On Sunday he will be honouring his relatives at the annual event in London.
His paternal grandfather fought in the Battle of the Somme in the First World War, his maternal grandfather fought in Second World War from D-Day to the liberation of Belsen, his great-grandfather fought in the Boer War and his Uncle served in Burma in Second World War.
He said: “For me, Remembrance is an opportunity to remember those I’ve served with, to give thanks who served before me and to all those who made a sacrifice – whether giving their lives or giving some other part of themselves, physically or mentally.
“Having marched twice before, to pay my respects to old family members, old friends and those I’ve not met.”
Help for Heroes has been supporting members of the Armed Forces community to live well after service for 15 years. In that time, the military charity has helped over 27,000 veterans and their families.
Matthew, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, now lives in South Devon and served with the Royal Engineers from 1985 to 2015. He said: “In my service I ran the Clothing Team and was responsible for changing the camouflage to what we use today, introducing silk, blast protective underwear to troops in Afghanistan.”
He has been supported by the Charity through sports recovery activities including diving and cycling.
Matthew will be amongst more than 20 veterans from Help for Heroes wearing distinctive tri-service colours when they march in the national Remembrance Sunday ceremony, held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London.
David Hornsby, a Veterans’ Clinical Advisor at the Charity and has organised the charity’s largest ever group of veterans in attendance, added: “Remembrance is not just about one day – I think it’s all round for veterans, but the ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday are an incredibly poignant focus for me.
“I was an Emergency Department nurse and was privileged to care for our wounded on operations, many of them experienced traumatic injuries that had previously been regarded as unsurvivable. Many more bear the scars of the events they witnessed, I’m now in the privileged position of being able to continue to support our wounded veterans. Remembrance Day reminds me of the operational tours I deployed on, and those fellow veterans of all operations who I can help now.”
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