Still Serving: Steve's Story
Steve Hammond was 21 and serving with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards when the Falklands conflict changed his life forever. On 8 June 1982, he was aboard RFA Sir Galahad at Bluff Cove when the ship was bombed before troops could disembark. Forty‑eight soldiers and crew were killed, including Steve’s childhood friend Paul Green who he’d grown up with, laughed with, and joined the Army alongside.
Steve survived, but a devasting question followed him for decades: “Why did I get to go home and he didn’t?”
His injuries were life‑changing. His back and legs required years of surgery and rehabilitation, and the psychological wounds were harder still. When he was medically discharged in 1989, Steve entered a civilian world that felt unrecognisable. He faced redundancy, homelessness, and a growing belief that he was failing the people he loved. At his lowest point, overwhelmed by pain and survivor’s guilt, Steve attempted to take his own life.
Everything changed in 1997, when RBVE reached out. Steve and his family were invited to the veterans’ village in Kent. He was given a home as well as a job in RBVE’s social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC), among a community of other veterans who understood the weight he carried.
In the factory, Steve found something he hadn’t felt since leaving the Army: purpose. His warmth, humour, and instinctive kindness made him a steadying presence on the shop floor. Younger veterans gravitated towards him. Those struggling with their own injuries or trauma saw in Steve someone who understood, someone who had walked the darkest paths and survived them.
For more than two decades, Steve was a quiet anchor within BBMC. His impact was so profound that in 2018 he was appointed an RBVE Ambassador, representing the charity at events across the country. Even now, he still returns to the factory to check in on the team.
Steve’s commitment to service extends far beyond RBVE. He became an elected councillor and Army Covenant Champion in 2015, and in 2024 he was elected Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, choosing RBVE as his charity of the year.
Despite daily pain and the enduring weight of PTSD, Steve continues to give back with humility and heart. As he often says: “If I can help just one veteran who is on the brink as I was, then it’s worth it.”
Through his compassion, Steve has helped far more than one.
Who We Help
Learn about the veterans, people with disabilities, and families we support- and the challenges they face.
How We Help
Discover the services we provide, from employment and housing to tailored support.
Our Actions For Veterans
See how we champion veterans and people with disabilities through research and national campaigns.