Memorial to LGBT veterans means 'no more shame'

Ruth Birch and Julia Currey, shown 22 years apart, met each other in the army

A woman who had to hide her relationship with her now-wife has described a new memorial recognising lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military personnel as a "significant piece of history".

The sculpture, named An Opened Letter, was unveiled by King Charles III to commemorate LGBT+ veterans affected by the ban of same-sex couples in the armed forces until 2000.

Ruth Birch, from Truro in Cornwall, said she endured mental exhaustion as she tried to keep her relationship with Julia Currey a secret from the army.

Ms Currey, who served alongside her and is now her wife, said: "No more shame now."

The sculpture, named "an opened letter", was unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

It resembles a crumpled piece of paper containing words from personal letters which were used as evidence to incriminate people.

The unveiling was the King's first official engagement in support of the LGBT+ community

Ms Birch, who is an ambassador for the charity Fighting with Pride, which recommended the monument as as part of Lord Etherington's LGBT Veterans Review, met her wife while serving in the army in Northern Ireland.

"We knew that our relationship was wrong according to the army and we kept it a complete secret as best we could, we didn't even acknowledge each other," she said.

"It was so difficult because you have to be two people all the time - it was mentally exhausting."

During the time of the ban, those who were gay - or were perceived to be - faced intrusive investigations, dismissal and in some cases imprisonment.

Ms Birch said her partner, known as Ju, was sent to Cyprus for six months and they wrote to each other in codes because they knew the mail was being intercepted.

"We wrote letters to each other every day - they were called blueys and they were like an airmail letter," she said.

"So to have the open letter, that is what the memorial is called, is extremely significant to both of us."

After their relationship was discovered, Ms Birch said they were told they would be dishonourably discharged if they did not resign.

They ended up splitting and left the army separately.

Julia Currey and Ruth Birch reunited after separating decades ago

Ms Currey said the unveiling of the memorial was a bittersweet day and thanked the King for recognising "the pain and misjustice we endured".

She said their only crime was "falling in love".

"We served our Queen and country with honour and dignity," she said.

"No more shame now. We are veterans and so damn proud."

The pair reunited decades later after Ms Currey used social media to find her now wife after seeing her on a TV programme.

Ms Birch said: "It means so much to me that the monument not only shows what LGBT veterans went through before the ban was lifted - it's such a significant piece of history.

"It ensures that our story of when we served with such pride and dignity for our Queen and country, treated so cruelly, that it's never forgotten and we all stand with courage, dignity and respect."