Whoops!

Steyr

Someone's going to pay for that i bet!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6717457/Three-bereaved-military-families-received-late-condolence-letters-from-Gordon-Brown.html

Three bereaved military families received late condolence letters from Gordon Brown
Three families who lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan received late letters of condolence from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, Downing Street has confirmed.

Published: 12:46PM GMT 03 Dec 2009

The delays came to light after the father of one soldier killed in Iraq, Trooper Jack Sadler, 21, of the Honourable Artillery Company, revealed he only received his letter more than two years after his son died.

Reservist Tpr Sadler was killed on December 4 2007 when his vehicle was caught up in a blast in Helmand Province.

But his father, Ian Sadler, from Exmouth, Devon, said he only received a handwritten letter from Gordon Brown on November 17 2009, accompanied by a typed apology for the delay from Jeremy Heywood, an aide to the Prime Minister.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Brown apologised for any distress caused to Mr Sadler and confirmed that another two families who lost loved ones in 2007 had received condolence letters late.

"I can only apologise to those families, and I want to send my heartfelt condolences to them," he said.

"They have my profound thanks for the invaluable contribution that their loved ones have been making to make Britain safe and I understand their grief and their sadness at a time when they have lost so much."

The Prime Minister's spokesman conceded there "may well be some more" from 2008 and 2009 and a review would be conducted to establish what went wrong.

Mr Brown ordered the review immediately upon hearing that Trooper Sadler's family had not received a letter, he added, and wrote again to all the families affected.

"The Prime Minister takes enormous care and attention in writing these personal letters to the families who have lost people in the conflict," he said.

A total of 47 servicemen and women died in Iraq in 2007 and 41 were killed in Afghanistan. The identity of the other two families affected is not yet known.

Last month, Mr Brown was criticised for spelling mistakes in a handwritten letter to Jacqui Janes, whose son Jamie was killed in Afghanistan.

Mr Sadler, a former serviceman and campaigner for more helicopters for British troops in Afghanistan, has already written to the Ministry of Defence over other mistakes since his son was killed.

He said the MoD had incorrectly named his unit on the medal certificate and called his son a "trooper" instead of Trooper on an official document. He said they also wanted to put the wrong cap badge on his son's headstone.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The Report, Mr Sadler, from Exmouth, Devon, said: "When I received the letter it made me feel sad.

"I think the treatment I have received from the MOD since Jack was killed has been left a lot to be desired.

"It goes to show what this present administration thinks of our soldiers."

And he angrily dismissed Mr Brown's late gesture, saying: "It is hollow. I would rather have Jack back and proper equipment given to him."

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said Mr Brown ordered the letter of apology to be written when he was informed the original condolence letter had not been dispatched.

In his apology, Mr Heywood reportedly said: ''This issue has only just been brought to the Prime Minister's and my own attention; and the Prime Minister wanted to write to you at the earliest opportunity to correct the mistake that was made.

''Please accept my and the Prime Minister's apologies for the distress this may have caused and my most sincere condolences for your loss.''