A former soldier who served in Afghanistan left his military medals with a friend before ending his life in August, having condemned the housing system that he believed had abandoned him.
Rob Homans, 35, attended his brother's wedding where he entrusted his decorations to someone for safekeeping, saying they didn't fit properly on his suit.
Over the following days, the ex-Royal Horse Artillery bombardier contacted old army colleagues and friends, arranging future meetings.
His mother Dawn Turner, 56, has since established a campaign called Rob's Army to pursue justice for veterans and address systemic failures.
Mr Homans was told his application for housing was not deemed a priority, according to his mother
|FAMILY
"I'm not going to stop. I'm going to get justice for him and prevent this from happening again," she declared through tears.
Mr Homans had pursued his childhood ambition by enlisting in the military, rejecting opportunities with Birmingham City football scouts to join the armed forces.
He deployed to Afghanistan aged 19, returning for a second tour at 21.
His mother believes the experiences during service damaged his mental wellbeing. "When he came back, he was broken," she told the Daily Mail.
Mr Homans's mother gave an emotional account
|FAMILY
Following his discharge in 2015, Mr Homans initially secured employment and married, but subsequently faced deteriorating physical and mental health.
He experienced digestive problems, persistent headaches and hearing loss in one ear attributed to weapons fire.
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After his marriage ended, he lost both his residence and employment, returning to live with his mother.
Despite the Armed Forces Covenant supposedly guaranteeing veterans housing priority, Worcester City Council allegedly told him "he's not a priority," according to Ms Turner.
The council offered accommodation only in a house of multiple occupation located in an area known for drug activity, far from his support network.
Mr Homans had maintained sobriety from cocaine for eight months and declined the placement, leading housing officials to close his application for non-engagement.
Ms Turner recounted discovering her son weeping outside the housing office. He had pointed to two homeless veterans sleeping in a doorway whilst observing a nearby hotel accommodating refugees.
"I fought for this country and it means nothing," he had told her.
Mr Homans took his own life
|Family handout
His initial suicide attempt occurred in 2019 after a veterans' charity informed them of a six-month waiting list for mental health services.
Further attempts followed in 2023 and 2024, with police declining to section him despite family pleas.
Ms Turner revealed that no Ministry of Defence representatives contacted the family following her son's death.
The family suspects Mr Homans may have sustained traumatic brain injury during military service, but post-mortem examination proved impossible due to tissue deterioration after the local morgue's bank holiday closure.
Rob's Army seeks to establish accountability for veterans' treatment and implement lasting reforms.
Ms Turner advocates for an independent Office for Veterans' Affairs, protected from political changes, and criticises current charity coordination as "herding cats."
Worcester City Council expressed condolences but declined to address housing concerns.
The Ministry of Defence highlighted £25 million invested in Operation Courage mental health services and £3.5 million for veteran homelessness initiatives, including the new £50 million Valour programme.
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
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