Soldier's mum's poetry is giving strength to others
THE mother of a Swadlincote soldier is fighting her own battle against the grief and isolation of army families at home.
Kim Spencer, of Burton Road, Church Gresley, has published a book of war poetry and launched a Facebook support group for other parents anxiously waiting for their loved ones to get back safely.
She described the experience she went through when her son Sam went to fight on the front line in Afghanistan as an infantry soldier for the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment in April last year.
“It was the most difficult experience I have ever had as a mother,” she said.
“I lived in a bubble, my whole life revolved around sending parcels and waiting to hear his voice on the telephone.
“I scoured the Battalion Facebook page for news or just a mention of his company.
“I was counting down how many days before his leave, and how many days before the tour was going to end.” On June 18, Private Gareth Bellingham was killed in action on the same patrol as Sam.
Mrs Spencer was left shell-shocked in her ‘desperate’ attempts to try to find out how her son was.
She later found comfort by making contact with other parents paying tribute to Pte Bellingham on Facebook.
She then became close friends with three other mums from Walsall, Tamworth and Wolverhampton, and the support they gave each other helped them through the experience.
Following that she published A Mum’s War, a collection of poems which has so far sold 200 copies.
It examines the highs and lows of their shared experiences while their sons were away at war.
She said they wanted to let other parents know that they are not alone and she hoped they would be able to find the support which helped her.
“As the lads returned home from the tour, we were elated, but it was never out of our minds that it wasn’t over.
“As soon as some came home, others were saying goodbye.
“We wanted to help so much.
“Sometimes, when a battalion goes on tour, a support group does evolve, but they are not so easy to find and too often they peter out when that battalion returns home.
“We were conscious of mums of soldiers who don’t go out in large numbers and who were spread across the country.
“We wanted something that was more constant and lasted longer than one tour.”
The proceeds from the book are being donated to veterans’ post traumatic stress disorder charity Talking 2 Minds.
To order a copy of the book contact amumswar@hotmail.co.uk.
