This document discusses two studies on the experiences of those bereaved through military death. It finds that the experience is often different in several ways: the nature and timing of sudden, violent deaths abroad; the young age of those who die leaving families and children behind; additional losses surrounding the military culture and identity of the deceased; and feelings of isolation from both civilian and military support systems. The domino effect of multiple changes can compound the grief experienced by partners and children left behind.
1. WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF BEREAVEMENT
THROUGH MILITARY DEATH DIFFERENT?
Dr. Liz Rolls
with Dr Gillian Chowns and Dr Mairi Harper
Honorary Research Fellow, University of Gloucestershire
Independent Researcher: Pegasus Projects
BSA: Death, Inequality and Social Difference
14 November 2014
2. TWO STUDIES
Literature review and Scoping study of support organisations
An Evaluation Study with bereaved military parents
Both funded by Forces Support
a charity that provides practical support to those bereaved through military death
(with Dr Gillian Chowns)
(with Dr Mairi Harper)
8. 1. Is the experience of those who have been bereaved
through a military death different and, if so, in what
ways?
2. With a particular focus on bereaved parents, how is
the experience compounded by the complexities of
the social, cultural, and political context that
surrounds them?
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY........?
9. ‘Cultural script of military life’
WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
BEREAVED THROUGH A MILITARY DEATH DIFFERENT?
(Keegan, 2011)
10. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
11. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
Deployment:
Constitutes varying degrees of loss
Companionship and intimacy
Emotional and instrumental support,
inc childcare.
Associated with:
Spousal depression
Sleep disturbance
Physical symptoms
Significant increases in parenting distress
Disruption in parenting rules/expectations
Increased rates of child/intimate partner
Military families - used to cycles of absence
12. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
‘Crisis’ deaths
Unusually traumatic, and violent
Anticipated but sudden
Death outside the UK
Repatriation of the body
RWB helpful/intrusive
Few relatives able to visit the place of death
Death in the UK
No repatriation ceremony
Inquest
Delays in funeral arrangements
Uncertainty knowing what has happened
and in getting the story clear
13. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
Those who die are relatively young
leaving behind:
Partners In post-modern family
structures - Which one?
Parents Consequences when
relationships poor
Siblings Forgotten?
Children Unborn/Very young?
14. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
Consequences
Recognition to person/bereaved
‘Honour’ the death
BUT:
Attention on-going over time/images
repeated
National news & Information very public
15. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
Military culture:
Language, social norms,
and attitudes
Strong identity bound up with it
BUT:
Finding meaning
may be challenging
16. The impact of deployment
prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing
of the death
Those who have died
and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and
personal identity
Additional losses
and changes
Domino effect of changes/loss
For partners
Practical support
Military life
Parenting Support
Supportive relationships
House
Work
For children
Friends
School/Education
17. CIVILIAN MILITARY
The shattering of life
The enduring presence
of the deceased son
Enduring feelings
of grief
Feeling isolated and redundant
PARENTAL BEREAVEMENT
Grieving state of mind
Cultural
isolation
Isolated from
‘military family’
Geographical
isolation
Social
isolation
18. CIVILIAN MILITARY
SUDDEN AND VIOLENT DEATH
How parents
were informed
The processes
surrounding the death
‘Seeing’ the body
Loss of control
A paradoxical
space
Narrative re-enactment
of violent death
The Funeral
The Belongings
Kinship
Hierarchy
• of loss
• of death