A family campaigning for their war hero son to be honoured have received a boost from the King.
The parents of Nathan Hunt have called on defence chiefs to add his name to a national war memorial.
Warrant officer Nathan took his own life in 2018 after battling PTSD. He served with Prince Harry in Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defence has refused to add Nathan’s name to a wall at the Nat-ional Memorial Arboretum as it says his death was not linked to his service.
But after appealing to the King for help, Nathan’s parents, Derek and Maria, got a letter from Buckingham Palace pledging “good wishes”.
While Charles cannot personally intervene, they hope his words will lead the MoD to rethink its decision.
The People’s Save Our Soldiers campaign is calling for a radical review of the way the MoD handles military mental health.
Derek, 71, who is an Army veteran himself, told the Sunday People : “I feel sure that, had the King been allowed to act independently, he would have supported our campaign.
“I have medical evidence to prove Nathan was suffering from PTSD in the weeks before he took his own life.
“As far as I am concerned, Nathan’s death is directly attributable to his military service. He was a casualty of war and the least he deserves is to have his name on the memorial.”
A report produced after dad-of-one Nathan died said he had experienced “traumatic exposure” in Afghanistan and had “elements of PTSD”.
Four other soldiers who took their own lives after returning from war zones have had their names added to the wall at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
But defence chiefs ruled that “on the balance of probabilities”, Nathan’s mental health and subsequent death was not linked to his 23 years of service.
In 2021, Prince Harry expressed dismay at not being able to help the family after being stripped of his military titles when he left the UK.
But Derek and Maria, of Lincoln, say Nathan’s bravery must be recognised.
In his six months in Afghanistan, he had a Mention in Dispatches, describing him as “a superb example of leadership, professionalism and a fantastic ambassador to his corps”.
The MoD said: “Every suicide is a tragedy and deeply felt in the Defence community.
"Careful consideration is given to each case and the decision not to include Warrant Officer Hunt’s name on the Armed Forces Memorial does not detract from his service.
"We are eternally grateful.”
