First of a kind military research conference held at Edinburgh Napier University

Organisers of Scotland's first conference focused on the role of the armed forces in society have hailed it as a success, following its conclusion.

Held between 22 and 28 August to coincide with Edinburgh's festival season, Identity, Purpose and Belonging: The First Scottish International Conference on Armed Forces in Society, gave hundreds of attendees to learn more about the emerging research and thinking on support for service personnel, veterans, and their families.

The events were centred around Edinburgh Napier University's Craiglockhart campus, which fittingly has strong links to the armed forces. Known as Craiglockhart War Hospital during the First World War, it became famous as the place where poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen first met.

Among the highlights was the launch of a collection of poetry by former Army medic Major General Tim Hodgetts, drawing on experiences from his deployments to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Speaking to BFBS Forces News, he said: "I have been inspired by poets of the past, particularly World War One poets.

"It's absolutely fabulous to be launching a book at Craiglockhart, which is the site of the World War One shell shock hospital where Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Robert Graves met here as patients."

Aside from poetry and the arts, the conference addressed several broad themes relating to armed forces research and practice, such as history, the transition between military and civilian life, family, education, wellbeing, and mental health.

Identity, Purpose and Belonging was organised and hosted by Edinburgh Napier's Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement - led by its Director, Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith (pictured right).

The Centre was set up in 2020 with an aim of creating collaborative community of armed forces research and evidence which informs military policy and practice, alongside Scottish Armed Forces Evidence and Research (SAFE&R).

The conference was sponsored by the Veterans' Foundation, which also funded the creation and continued development of SAFE&R.