The father of the 95th member of the armed forces to be killed in Iraq is to receive a British Empire Medal for his work in supporting other grieving families.

Major Matthew Bacon, 34, a former member of the Walton detachment of the Army Cadet force, was tragically killed in September 2005 when a roadside bomb hit the landrover he was travelling in whilst in Basrah City.

He had served with the Intelligence Corps and at the time of his death he was serving as a staff officer with the Headquarters of Multi-National Division (South East) (MND(SE)).

His father, Roger, has since campaigned for a wider support network for bereaved family members after he and his wife Maureen sought a group of people to talk with about their loss.

Mr Bacon said: “When a parent loses a child their world changes forever. And when my wife and I were told the news of Matthew’s death, it was the most devastating, terrible time of our lives.

“In the months that followed our loss, we had this overwhelming need to meet with other bereaved parents like ourselves – but there was no platform for us to do this.”

He said he then took his concerns to the Ministry of Defence, and was put in touch with armed forces charity SSAFA, formally known as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

He said: “Drawing from my own experience, I explained the need for parents and siblings to have the opportunity to meet with other bereft families, in a place where they could be open with each other and express their feelings and fears surrounding their bereavement.

“What I wanted to do, through SSAFA, was to facilitate regular meetings both nationally and regionally so that bereaved families would have a place to adjust to the ‘new normal’ of daily living.”

Mr Bacon's dedication led to the creation of SSAFA's bereaved families support group, of which he was the first chairman.

Matthew, who was born in Kingston, had grown up with his parents in Molesey and Weybridge before he joined the army.

Speaking about being awarded the BEM, he said: "When it came through you could've knocked me down with a feather. It wasn't something I expected at all.

“I treat it as an honour in Matthew’s name and it gives recognition to SSAFA itself, rather than as something on a personal basis.

“It means a great deal, I've seen the results and the results are good. People are able to share their dreadful experiences and their feelings, it's helped a lot of people on the road to carrying on with life.

“I hoped to do the right thing. ”

For more information on SSAFA, visit ssafa.org.uk or call 0800 731 4880.

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