On 4 July 2009, while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Hill’s life changed forever. Medics fought to save his life after shrapnel from an improvised explosive device (IED) tore into his brain.
Stewart was deployed during Operation Panchai Palang, a major British-led, five-week offensive in Helmand Province that involved intense fighting to secure key terrain around Babaji ahead of Afghan elections.
Just days earlier, on 1 July, he had been flying over the area in a Chinook helicopter, carrying out aerial reconnaissance ahead of the operation.
Below him lay fertile farmland crisscrossed by irrigation canals from the Helmand River, dense vegetation that offered countless hiding places for the enemy.
“I remember looking down and knowing there were at least 350 Taliban fighters in that area,” he said. “I was nervous and just kept thinking, I hope we don’t lose any soldiers. I hope nobody gets killed.”
Three days later, those fears became reality.
During the fighting, Lance Corporal David Dennis and Private Robbie Laws were killed. Several others were injured. Stewart was caught in an explosion that left him with a traumatic brain injury.
“I was blown up and then found myself back on one of those helicopters,” he said.
“This time, I was medically evacuated to Camp Bastion Hospital— a trauma hospital in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.”
The events of that summer left a lasting impact, not just on those injured or killed, but on everyone connected to them.
“In 2009, a huge number of people were killed or very seriously injured,” Stewart said.
“It’s not just the soldiers, it’s their families, their friends, their colleagues. Everyone is affected in some way.”
Recovering from his injuries was a long and challenging process, but Stewart said that support from military charities played a crucial role in helping him rebuild his life.
“A lot of the soldiers, families and children I’ve met since all needed help in some way,” he said. “The veterans’ charities can provide that help when it’s needed — and many of us do need it.”
Now an advocate for veterans’ causes, Hill is particularly passionate about the work supported by the Veterans’ Foundation, which funds life-changing projects for former service personnel across the UK.
One of the ways the Foundation is supported is through the Veterans’ Lottery, described as “the little card with the big heart.”
“When you sign up, you’re helping fund life-saving projects for British veterans in need,” Hill said. “That support really does make a difference.”
For Stewart, the sound of a Chinook helicopter will always be a reminder of Afghanistan — but also of survival, resilience, and the importance of standing by those who have served.
The Veterans’ Foundation has awarded more than £30 million in grants to over 500 UK military charities, supporting thousands of veterans and their families.
If you’d like to be in with a chance to win up to £75,000 while helping veterans like Stewart, please sign up today.
