A former British Army soldier who now supports veterans navigating life after service has shared his experiences of injury, trauma and recovery in a newly released filmed interview.
Paul Rees, a former Trooper with The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, speaks candidly about the long-term impact of military service in a conversation with Jay Morton.
Now working as a veterans liaison with Veterans for Veterans, Rees said he is speaking out 25 years after the incident that ended his Army career, to highlight the challenges many veterans face long after leaving the forces.
Career-ending injury
In 2001, while deployed in Bosnia, the Land Rover Rees was travelling in struck an anti-personnel mine.
He regained consciousness in a German military hospital with a fractured spine and paralysis from the waist down.
After months of rehabilitation, his military career came to an end. However, Rees said the physical injuries were only part of the story.
He described the transition out of the Armed Forces as one of the most difficult challenges, with a sudden loss of structure, identity and purpose.
Captivity in Libya
Years later, while working in Libya during the 2011 uprising, Rees found himself in another dangerous situation.
After appearing in footage broadcast on state television, former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi reportedly placed a $100,000 bounty on his head.
Rees was subsequently abducted and held captive for 21 days, during which he was subjected to repeated abuse.
He eventually escaped by overpowering one of his captors, later returning to Libya after recovering from the ordeal.
Supporting others after service
Today, Rees supports ex-service personnel through his role with Veterans for Veterans and as an ordained pastor, helping others deal with injury, trauma and the realities of life after discharge.
Morton said Rees’s story highlights the long-term consequences of military service.
“Paul’s story is not about glory – it is about consequences,” he said. “It shows what service can take from someone long after the headlines move on.”
Rees added that he hopes sharing his experience will raise awareness of the ongoing support veterans need, particularly in the years following discharge.
The full interview is available to watch online.
