Commemorative stone to be laid in honour of Mansfield soldier Private Lee Bonsall

Private Lee Bonsall served with the 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps served tours of Afghanistan and asked to be discharged from the Army in October 2006.

But it was not until May 2007 that he was assessed by a military psychiatrist, who warned he could deteriorate and be at risk of “self-harm or suicide” if he remained in the forces.

When he was eventually discharged in September 2007, the Army’s assessment concluded that Pte Bonsall was not suffering from PTSD but that he was “temperamentally unsuitable” for military life.

On the 3rd of March 2012 Lee was found hanged at his home in Tenby. Lee’s family has since his death campaigned for better mental health care of ex-servicemen and women.

The inquest into Private Bonsall’s death resulted in the coroner making substantial recommendations to the Ministry of Defence on how medical records of service men and women should be made available doctors and other healthcare professionals as well as the type of support service personnel should get in terms of dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The ceremony will include the laying of wreaths by family and friends. The Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton will lay a wreath on behalf of The Royal Logistics Corp before the sounding of the last post. It is hoped that several Royal British Legion standards will also be on display.

Following The Last Post a friend of the Bonsall family will sing a song in memory of Lee after which white doves will be released into the air.