TWO brothers who are both blind veterans from Somerset marched at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday with the charity Blind Veterans UK.

John Hardy, 59, and Tom Hardy, 63, both from Bridgwater, marched together for the first time and were be joined by their sons on the parade route.

The Hardy brothers marched to the Cenotaph in London with more than 100 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

John said: “Although Tom and I served around the same time we were in different units and our paths rarely crossed. It was very special to march together.”

John joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1973 and – after basic training – served in Germany and Northern Ireland.

He left the Army in 1977 to train as a registered nurse, but re-joined during the First Gulf War.

From 1990, he worked in the military hospital in Riyadh looking after Service men and women who were injured or ill, nursing them back to health, or preparing them for evacuation to the UK.

Tom joined the Royal Corps of Transport in 1971 and completed tours in Northern Ireland, Belize, Germany, Australia, Canada and Malta. He was discharged in 1989 as a Sergeant.

The brothers both lost their sight within a month of each other in 2014 but in very different circumstances.

Tom suffered a major cerebral stroke in July 2014 and one of the consequences of that was losing his peripheral vision. In August that year John had a retinal artery occlusion and abruptly lost his sight.

John said: “I woke up unable to see out of my right eye and already had low vision in the left, so I became blind.

“That stopped me from working immediately, I couldn’t drive and I couldn’t see to read. It was a complete and utter nightmare. I bluffed my way through for about four months, but – by the time I came to Blind Veterans UK I was in a dark place and quite depressed.”

After visiting Blind Veterans UK’s training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton for an introductory week last year John wanted to ensure that his brother was entitled to the same help.

“Blind Veterans UK have helped me so much with equipment and training that, as soon as Tom was well enough, I wanted him to have the same experience," he said.

“I have been helped with equipment such as a synaptic table and phone, a large laptop with keyboard, and a Boombox to listen to magazines and newspapers.

"I have also had IT training for the specialist equipment and will be helping Tom after he starts his training.

“The most important thing the charity gives you is the realisation that you can still live independently.”

The brothers marched with other vision-impaired ex-Service men and women supported by Blind Veterans UK as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations in London on Sunday, November 13.

Tom said: “We were escorted by our two sons, who have also served in the British Armed Forces so that made it extra-special.”

John adds: “During Remembrance I always remember all those who died in Service but one friend and colleague in particular.”

This November coincides with the 100th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Somme. Blind Veterans UK supported more than 250 blinded veterans who lost their sight at the Somme.

Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, providing vital practical and emotional support to help veterans discover life beyond sight loss.

The charity estimates that there are currently 59,000 blind veterans that would be eligible to access its specialist support, most of whom are not currently aware of it.

If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces or did National Service and are now battling severe sight loss, find out how Blind Veterans UK could help by calling 0800 389 7979 or visiting noonealone.org.uk.