'The government sent us to war. Then forgot about us'
Veteran returns to former war zone to raise funds for ex-service personnel
A Northampton veteran who was once given emergency help by a veterans' charity has raised more than £2,700 for former servicemen and women through a 1,500-mile European rally and is now campaigning for greater support for ex-forces personnel.
Dean Griffin, known online as "The Travelling Veteran", was among participants in the Veterans Honour Rally 2026, a fundraising road trip from the UK to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The rally, dubbed Bosnia or Bust, took teams through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia before reaching the Bosnian capital on 2nd October.
Mr Griffin, a former Royal Logistic Corps HGV driver who served in Bosnia and Iraq, said the journey was about far more than the destination.
"We've been travelling in support of The Veterans Charity, carrying remembrance with us along the way and showing what can happen when veterans, friends and supporters come together for a common purpose," he said.
The rally raised £2,778.75 for veterans' organisations, including The Veterans Charity, which provides practical support to former servicemen and women facing hardship.
Support beyond the battlefield
Mr Griffin said his motivation for fundraising stems from his own experience after leaving the Army.
There was a period, he said, when he was unemployed, registered disabled and surviving on benefits.
"I had nothing. I had no money, no future," he said.
After contacting The Veterans Charity, he said he received emergency assistance within 24 hours and received a fridge and cupboard full of food.
'You fight your battle overseas, but when you come back the battle for support is only just beginning'
''They gave me a future. They gave me hope that one day my life would be back again." He said.
The former soldier later retrained as an electrician and now serves as an ambassador for the charity.
Returning to Bosnia
The British Army first deployed to Bosnia in 1992 during the civil war, going on to serve in peacekeeping roles for almost 30 years.
For Mr Griffin, returning to Sarajevo carried particular personal significance.
He first visited Bosnia while serving with the Army in 2000, when the country was still recovering from the devastating conflicts of the 1990s.
"When I was there the first time, it was a war zone. There were buildings blown apart and dereliction all around," he said.
'I was lucky. I came back, but not everyone did'
Returning more than two decades later, he said he was struck by how much the country had changed.
"You see children playing in the streets. It gives a lot of hope that what we'd done wasn't in vain and that it was worth it."
Call for better veteran support
Ahead of Remembrance events in the UK, Mr Griffin urged politicians to provide greater year-round support for veterans.
While praising public backing for former servicemen and women, he said many veterans still feel forgotten after leaving the Armed Forces.
"It shouldn't fall to charities to help veterans, but it does," he said.
"We're not after a lot of stuff. Just support us when we need it.
He also questioned efforts to encourage former personnel back into military service without addressing the challenges many face after discharge.
"When we needed help, we were forgotten," he said.
Mr Griffin is also establishing the Balkan Veterans Association, which aims to create a permanent memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum for those who served in the Balkans.
"Those who did come back, many have life-changing injuries, both physically and mentally.
"These people need to be remembered."