Military widows feel overlooked and let down, report says
People whose partner died while serving in the UK's military have said they feel let down by the Armed Forces community, a new report has shown.
The study, carried out by Northumbria University and funded by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and supported by the War Widows Association, suggests some people do not receive support due to confusion over the terms 'military widow' and 'war widow'.
The report also outlined different charities having different eligibility criteria as a reason for a lack of support.
Participants shared their personal experiences as part of the research and also highlighted a 'hierarchy of death' within some organisations.
Some participants who lost their husbands to illness or suicide reported feeling less worthy than wives whose husbands died in combat.
The researchers found that, overall, 40% of military widows feel lonely or socially isolated, with researchers now calling for improvements in the support available.
The report focused on the transition from wife to widowhood "due to the limited evidence-base regarding husbands whose significant other served in the military", although it says it is possible the evidence could be "applicable to widowers".
This means not just the support straight after the bereavement but the months and years that follow.
Dr Gill McGill, the principal investigator on the study from Northumbria University, said losing a partner can be "particularly difficult" for military spouses.
"For some participants who took part in the study it led to feeling socially isolated and there was a strong sense of a complete loss of identity," she said.
"Some of the participants talked about feeling 'cut off' from the military community they were once part of, uprooted from their close-knit community and even abandoned.
"We hope this research will provide an evidence base to drive change and increase awareness and recognition of the role families play in the effectiveness of our Armed Forces, and ensure that bereaved spouses, in particular, are not forgotten."
For many, marrying someone in the Armed Forces can mean living on base and regularly relocating.
Military spouses often make personal sacrifices to support their partners and in service to the nation.
Forces in Mind Trust chief executive Tom McBarnet said the research "sheds light on an often overlooked group within" the Armed Forces.
"Of course, losing a partner is a difficult and painful experience for anyone, but there are additional challenges due to the nature of military bereavement which are important to understand, explore and account for."
He added: "Many of the participants spoke about feeling different from the civilian bereaved population, no matter the nature of their partner's death.
"The process of transition from military to civilian society extends to family members, and for those who are widowed, their transition is particularly difficult and painful.
"Families are a vital part of our Armed Forces and make many sacrifices to support their family member's service, so we must ensure they receive the right kind of support when the unimaginable happens, no matter the circumstances."
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