'Hurt' of Nottingham military veteran's parents 35 years on from his death

Parents of a Nottingham military veteran say it 'hurts' that their son is not recognised on any memorials for his service 35 years on from his death. Gregg Sandall died in 1989 at the age of 21 following a car accident that took place whilst he was posted abroad.

Serving with the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, Mr Sandall had been taking part in an exercise at Fort Ord in California. On a rest and recreation week whilst posted in the US, Gregg and three friends had hired a car to drive to Disneyland when it swerved off the road and overturned, killing Gregg and Private Darren Bull.

Gregg's funeral was held in Nottingham with full military honours and, since his death, his mother Marina and father Sandy have been visiting his final resting place at the Wilford Hill Crematorium every week. Yet with Remembrance Day having recently passed, Gregg's parents say they wish their son was properly commemorated for his service.

Is the government doing enough to help with the cost of living? Let us know here

Mr Sandall, 86, said: "There's no recognition for them except from the families. It makes you feel as though they're forgotten and it's not just Gregg, there are loads of others in the same position."

The couple, who live in The Meadows, say annual remembrance events are particularly hard. "That's when you cry," Mr Sandall says to his wife.

The couple faced further tragedy in 2003 when their son Garry died in a motorbike accident in Daybrook, aged 39. Both Garry and Gregg received police commendations for their bravery closer to home, which included Gregg coming to the aid of a woman involved in a hit and run outside an NCT bus garage.

NCT honoured Gregg's bravery by naming a bus after him in 2023. Yet speaking about the importance of a memorial for his service, Marina Sandall said many other parents would be in the same position.

The 80-year-old said: "I feel sorry for them if they feel anything like we do. They should be remembered. Just because they were killed in accidents, it feels as if nobody is ever going to mention them again. It really hurts."

The Imperial War Museum says that war memorials usually commemorate "casualties who served in, were affected by or killed as a result of war, conflict or peacekeeping; or those who died as a result of accident or disease whilst engaged in military service". Although Gregg Sandall was not technically on military service during his accident, he was only out in the US because he had been posted there and he was due to come home around a week later.

Mr and Mrs Sandall recently spoke out after Nottingham City Council sent them a letter saying changes would have to be made to Gregg and Garry's grave. The parents say no changes have been made yet more than a month on from a crucial deadline having passed.

On the need for Gregg and others in the same situation to have a proper memorial, Mrs Sandall added: "I just don't know where to go but it's niggling and niggling away at me as the years go on. He was the life and soul of the family.

"All of them should have some sort of recognition. They were here on the earth and they served their country."