David
Me and David were close as kids but we used to scrap
a bit too. He’d ride a bike and as his younger brother
I’d try to stick something in his spokes as he was going
past. But nobody else was allowed to try that. Once one
of my friends did it and David went over his handlebars.
I was furious and never spoke to the boy again.
Our dad was in the Royal Air Force and we used
to move around quite a lot. We were living in Wales,
Germany, Cambridgeshire. David was a bit of a
computer nerd, very academic. I wasn’t. I enjoyed the
social side of things. Often our teachers didn’t know
we were brothers because we were so different.
After college I decided to go to France to be a holiday
rep. I rebelled against everything that was supposed to
be normal, I suppose. Then I decided actually I’d grown
up and I was going to join the RAF. I joined in May
2000 as a survival equipment technician, two or three
years after my brother joined as a weapons technician.
I went to Oman, and at the time my brother had been
told that he was going to Iraq. Our mum just didn’t
watch the news for about five, six months because we
were both in or pretty close to war zones.
I later became a technician with the Red Arrows
display team. In 2011 I was directly involved in an
incident with Sean Cunningham, the pilot who died
when he ejected. [Cunningham was accidentally
ejected from his plane while it was on the ground at
RAF Scampton, falling to his death after his parachute
didn’t deploy. Morris witnessed the incident.] It
changed how I felt about the air force, how I was as a
person. I didn’t realise the massive impact at the time.
In 2013 I went to a different job, in Cyprus, but got
called back for the inquest into Sean’s death. I started
having flashbacks and nightmares. It really blew my
brain. Then we found out our mum had cancer.
I suddenly realised my brain couldn’t hack it any more.
I was really angry and anxious all the time. I probably
didn’t want to live. I was diagnosed with PTSD.
Not long after, Antony got injured [with a shoulder
fracture while training at Northwood Headquarters in
Hertfordshire]. He was dealing with chronic fatigue
syndrome and then our mum died. We both really
struggled. He said, “You need to pull yourself out of
this, so I’m applying to the [2018] Invictus Games on
your behalf.” [The international sporting event for
injured and sick military personnel was founded by
Prince Harry in 2014.] I was apprehensive but he said,
“You’ve got to do this. I want my brother back.”
I was the only reserve athlete to be called up for the
Sydney Games. I did swimming and rowing. Antony
and my nieces sent me a shoebox covered in glitter.
RELATIVE VALUES
David & Antony Morris
The RAF veteran brothers competing for Team UK in this month’s Invictus Games
It had notes saying, “Here’s a pack of Starbursts to
remind you of the star that you are.” Prince Harry
interviewed me in Admiralty House, opposite Sydney
Opera House; it was surreal. He was very genuine. He’s
letting people see beyond the uniform. We’re humans.
I came back and I said to my brother I felt so new
— not the same as I was before but the best that I could
be, dealing with mental health issues. I felt like it just
constantly rained on me, and then all of a sudden
it stopped. There’s a magic around the Games. I’ve
watched people who lost interest in life going on to
get new jobs, start a family, have new relationships.
I convinced Antony to apply for this year’s Games as
a result [he is competing in powerlifting, rowing and
the 100m sprint]. We’re the first brothers to compete
together. I’m competing in athletics and swimming and
I’m Team UK’s vice-captain — I think he found it a bit
difficult that his annoying younger brother was now
going to lead him! I really hope that the Games change
Antony’s life for the better, for good.Antony
Something like 13 of our family members have been
in the air force. I joined in January 1998 as a weapons
mechanic, our dad’s trade. I was a bit surprised whenMain: Antony, 45,
left, and David, 42,
at the Invictus
Games Team UK
multi-sports camp
at Brunel University,
Uxbridge. Inset:
David and Antony at
a family event, 2016“Antony signed me up for the
Games. He said, ‘You’ve got to do
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6 • The Sunday Times Magazine