James Blunt: 'Leaving The Army Is Incredibly Hard'

Former British Army officer and singer James Blunt has been speaking to Forces News about his decision to raise money for two military charities.

The singer is fundraising through his tour which got underway last week, as well as through his new single 'Monsters'.

"I think leaving the Army is incredibly hard," said Mr Blunt, who served with the Life Guards in the Household Cavalry.

"You're not in the Army for money, you're in it and working at it to look out for those around you, for the regiment, for the soldiers who you're working with, for Queen and country, for all of those things.

"There's a real sense of family - a bond, a purpose."

Help for Heroes volunteers are collecting donations from concert-goers at every UK venue on Mr Blunt's tour, 'Once Upon A Mind'.

While all the proceeds from 'Monsters' are also being split between Help For Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

The song was written for his father, Charles Blount, who served as a colonel in the Army Air Corps. 

The 45-year-old says he hopes his fundraising will help those injured while serving in the British Army. 

"As anyone in the Army knows, once you've been injured within the Army, then long-term support isn't always there," he said.

"You know, the Army do their best but under limited funding - that's the story, isn't it?

"At the end of the day, they have to push funding up to the frontline and people taken back to the rear don't get much of it."

He continued: "For masses of people who went to Afghanistan and to Iraq, the injuries that they came back with were all too common from IEDs, then leave you in a particular state that you can feel fairly deserted if you come back." 

Mr Blunt spent eight years in the Army and served with NATO forces during the Kosovo War in 1999.

Since leaving the Army, he has sold more than 20 million records worldwide.

He only has a few more UK concerts before the European leg of his tour starts in Brussels, Belgium, in a few days time.

The 'Goodbye My Lover' singer will also perform in Australia and New Zealand as part of the tour. 

Help For Heroes' head of supporter fundraising, David Martin, said Mr Blunt's "fantastic generosity" will help ensure the support of military veterans.