Matthew Baker was 16 when he joined the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Artillery in 1985.

"It was something I always wanted to do as a young boy. My dad and my uncles were in the Territorial Army - I used to see them in their uniforms - so it caught my imagination very young.

"Everyone knew I'd join up as soon as I could, and I did."

Matthew, from Aylesford, flew out to serve in Northern Ireland on his 19th birthday. Then, at 36, he was sent to a very different battlefield - Iraq - 2003 - a country on its knees.

"There was a lot of conflict there, we were in a very isolated place, we were under threat almost all of the time, and there were a lot of casualties we had to deal with."

While anyone outside the forces would assume Matthew feared for his life throughout his tour, they'd be wrong.

"The only fear I had over there was whether I'd do my job properly, if something happened, would I do what was expected?

"Would I look after my comrades, because they're the closest thing to you in that situation. And this isn't bravery - it's what any other serviceman will say.

"It's not until you get back home that your time in conflict catches up on you, and even then it's not you, it's your family who'll see the change in you."

Matthew, now 39, now works with the Royal British Legion Industries as a Welfare Officer, helping ex-Service personnel readjust to life outside the forces, and hopes this year's Poppy Appeal will be one of the biggest ever.

"It's about remembering the people we've lost and the ones who've been badly affected by wars.

"But it's also about the money, because there's a lot of help needed. Your service doesn't catch up with you until you've left - men and women leaving the Army can feel very isolated and lost , and the scars of service will stay with them if they don't get the right help."

Serving in the Army was a childhood dream for Matthew, in reality, it was nothing like he'd imagined.

"It doesn't compare at all. As a child, you think of the heroism of medals, and uniforms, and you read about war heroes - but even outside conflict, it is enjoyable, but military life is hard."

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