Prince Harry’s boast of killing 25 Taliban fighters has been condemned as a “horrible mistake” by the grieving father of one of his Afghan comrades, who killed himself on his return.
Derek Hunt, whose son Nathan served as a bomb disposal expert with Harry’s unit in 2008, said: “Many soldiers and veterans will find his comments about killing very disturbing – and maybe [they] may even cause some people to have flashbacks of their time in combat.’
A former Army mental health expert told the Mail on Sunday he had been contacted by disgruntled former patients who had read about the Duke of Sussex’s comments in his forthcoming memoir, Spare.
In the book, Harry broke a long-standing military custom by detailing how he fired on insurgents from his Apache gunship. He said he rationalized the killing by viewing the enemy combatants as pieces on a chessboard.
File photo dated 02/27/08 of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt while on duty in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan
File photo dated 02/27/08 of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt (front right) with Prince Harry (back center), Dean Smith (back left) and other members of their task force while deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Mr Hunt, mentioned in dispatches for his bravery in finding roadside bombs while serving alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan, was found hanged after years of nightmares and sleepless nights
Derek and Maria Hunt, parents of Nathan Hunt, Royal Engineer, who took his own life in January 2018
In his memoir, Spare, Harry broke a longstanding military custom by detailing the shooting of insurgents from his Apache gunship
Nathan Hunt, a warrant officer in the Royal Engineers, is said to have saved Harry’s life on numerous occasions when he discovered hidden roadside bombs buried by insurgents.
But after returning from the war, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and took his own life in January 2018 while still serving in the army.
Shortly thereafter, Harry wrote a moving letter to Mr Hunt and his wife Maria, in which he wrote: “Grief can be a long and arduous road. Please know that you and your family remain in my thoughts.’
Mr Hunt, also an Army veteran, said his son was “disappointed” by Harry’s comments about the killing of insurgents, adding: “Many of those who are still serving or are veterans would have spent years acknowledging the fact forget that they killed people.
“Taking someone’s life is very difficult for most people – it’s not something to brag about. That’s why they never talk about it.
“My son Nathan never told us what he saw or did because he knew it would be upsetting to us and he didn’t want to experience it again.
“He suffered from nightmares because of what he had seen and he also suffered from PTSD. Harry’s boast about killing people and removing them from the battlefield will not sit well with many people and will bring back many bad memories.
“I really can’t understand why Harry did that. It’s thoughtless. He doesn’t seem to have given it much thought.”
Previously unreleased picture dated 12/12/2012 of Prince Harry at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan where he served as an Apache helicopter pilot/gunner with the 662 Sqd Army Air Corps
Prince Harry mans a 50mm machine gun aimed at Taliban fighters January 2, 2008 in Helmand province, Afghanistan
Taliban fighters patrol along a street during a demonstration of people to condemn the recent protest by Afghan women’s rights activists January 21, 2022 in Kabul
Military leaders have previously criticized Harry’s comments, raising concerns that they could “trigger” trauma in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Such fears were confirmed last night when it emerged that veterans with mental health problems who had seen news reports about Harry’s claims had turned to professionals for support.
Former Army Major Cormac Doyle, a mental health nurse who served 25 years and specializes in treating service personnel with mental health issues including PTSD, said: “I’ve already had calls from many of my former patients who are very are upset about what Harry said. In all the years I’ve served and treated troops, I’ve never heard anyone speak like that.
“Harry is said to be a mental health activist so what he said was poorly thought out. I didn’t expect that from him as a member of the royal family, but above all as a former army officer. Words have an impact, and he has upset many people struggling with mental issues.
It will be a devastating blow to Harry, who has spent years building his reputation as a mental health activist.
Taliban fighters guard Kabul airport on August 31, 2021
Prince Harry is shown the Apache airline by a member of his squadron (name not given) at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, from where he operated as a co-pilot gunner during his service
One watch officer said: “Most of us have spent the last decade dodging the questions of drunken guests at dinner parties with the bloody fascination of the toughest part of service life.
“By revealing his war record so publicly, he will no doubt conjure up many of the ghosts of this conflict for other veterans.”
Former Army Major Wayne Owers, 52, a decorated Soldier who was discharged with PTSD, said: “As a mental health awareness campaigner, he should be keenly aware of the impact of his comments on those he appears to want to support. Harry’s comments are insensitive and unnecessary.’
Trevor Coult, a Color Sergeant who was awarded the Military Cross, warned, “There’s a reason most veterans don’t like to talk about what they did in combat, and it’s because it reminds them of a very dark place location.
“For a so-called mental health activist to speak like this is shameful, and his words will trigger a great many bad memories in many traumatized veterans.”
Falkland Islands veteran and former Royal Marines Sergeant Major Jeff Williams, 64, of the support group Veterans United Against Suicide, added: “For many veterans, this will bring back horrific memories of killing and losing friends in combat.
“I’m amazed that Harry, who is supposed to be a mental health activist, hasn’t noticed. It’s extremely awesome.’
Last night, a spokesman for veterans’ charity PTSD Resolution, which has helped more than 3,500 people cope with PTSD, said the organization was working to “manage” the aftermath of Harry’s book.