A young British man told his mother he was going to fight in Ukraine because he had ‘done some bad things’ and wanted to ‘give back to society’ before coming home with PTSD and killing himself.
Harry Gregg was 23 when he travelled to the war-torn country after the then foreign secretary Liz Truss encouraged British volunteers to enter the conflict.
He served three tours despite his only military experience being a few months in the Army Cadets when he was 11.
His devastated mother, Sandi Gregg, has told how Harry felt he was needed and thought he could help, despite his limited experience.
She said: ‘He told me, ”Mum, they need us”. He said to me, ”I have done some bad things, so I want to give back to society”.
‘Harry felt that he was needed and that he could help them.’
Harry Gregg was 23 when he travelled to Ukraine to fight against Russia before coming home and taking his own life
Harry served three tours despite his only military experience being a few months in the Army Cadets when he was 11
Army Cadets said Harry had been traumatised by trench warfare and seeing comrades die
Harry’s heartbroken mother paid an emotional tribute to her son on Facebook last week
One month before his death, Harry posted a heartfelt message to his girlfriend on Facebook as they spent the weekend away together
Ms Gregg paid a heartbreaking tribute to her son on Facebook last week, writing: ‘I miss you so much my darling. I hope you are at peace now.
‘Til I see you again. I love you to the universe n back. Love mum.’
Harry, from Thetford, Norfolk, witnessed the violent death of Ukrainian soldiers and saw atrocities committed against civilians.
His mother said he was ‘broken’ when he returned but was denied mental health support by the British military as he had not served with UK forces. He took his own life on December 14, hours before he was due to celebrate his 25th birthday with friends.
Ms Gregg, 57, said Harry and a fellow soldier were being shot at in the trenches when ten minutes later his friend was shot in the head and Harry had to put him in a body bag.
‘He ended up with one of his colleagues’ brains all over his uniform and he had to put him in a body bag and drag him out of the trenches,’ she said.
‘He used to bounce through the door with a big grin on his face. When he came back, there was a sadness about him. He was broken.’
One month before his death, Harry shared a heartfelt message to his girlfriend alongside pictures of the couple on a weekend away together.
‘I love you more than words could ever begin to describe, I could write 10 books on how much I love you and still not have enough space to put it into words! You are honestly my whole entire world!’ he wrote.
Reacting to the post, one friend commented: ‘I’m so happy you have found happiness again.’
Harry had no formal military training other than a spell in the Army Cadets. But he decided to fly out to help defend the country following its invasion by Russia in 2022 when he was 23
Harry’s mother said her son ‘used to bounce through the door with a big grin on his face. When he came back, there was a sadness about him. He was broken’
Harry travelled to Ukraine after the then foreign secretary Liz Truss (pictured) encouraged British volunteers to enter the conflict
A coroner last week said Harry’s exact intent that day was ‘unknown’, but his mother told the Mail he would still be alive if former prime minister Ms Truss had not spoken in favour of Britons joining the war.
‘He suffered from ADHD and was very impetuous. He phoned me the day after Liz had said that and told me ”Mum, I’m going to Ukraine,” she said.
‘He couldn’t be talked down from it… To all intents and purposes he had no military experience whatsoever. Liz Truss has blood on her hands.’ At least ten people from Britain have died after going to fight for Ukraine.
Five days after Vladimir Putin’s invasion in February 2022, Ms Truss said in a BBC interview: ‘If people want to support that struggle, I would support them.’ No 10 distanced itself from her comments, while fellow Conservatives said it would be reckless and illegal for Britons to become involved.
Ms Truss retracted the statement a week later, but Ms Gregg, 57, said the damage was already done. Her son served with the 48th Battalion and was nicknamed ‘Eagle’ by the other soldiers. He saw First World War-style trench warfare, which his mother said he was ‘not equipped for’ mentally.
‘He tried to speak to the British military for help with PTSD but they rejected him as he didn’t have a service number. You can’t just expect people to go over and volunteer and then come back and carry on with life.’
At Harry’s inquest in Norfolk, a coroner said he had spoken to a GP about PTSD but failed to attend appointments with a mental health worker. They said he ‘died due to a deliberate hanging but his intent is unknown and his cognition may have been impaired by the use of recreational drugs’.
Liz Truss said yesterday: ‘I am very sorry to hear of Harry’s death. My thoughts are with his friends and family.’ The Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office were contacted for comment.
For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org