Strength of numbers the key to a fair deal for North Yorkshire war veterans (From York Press)

Strength of numbers the key to a fair deal for North Yorkshire war veterans

8:16am Monday 10th August 2009

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STRENGTH in numbers is the key to winning a fair deal for North Yorkshire’s shattered war veterans – that’s the view of a woman whose husband paid a heavy price for heroism.

Having spent 14 years in the armed forces, Carl White became an unrecognisable, out-of-control shadow of his former self as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) triggered by his experiences during the first Gulf War, took its grip.

Now his wife Sue, from Acomb, York, is the latest to back The Press’ Debt of Honour campaign. It aims to raise the pressure on the Government to radically rethink the way servicemen and women left with crippling physical and psychological scars from their time in war zones are compensated and cared for on their return to civilian life.

Sue, 40, has outlined her own experiences of living and coping with Carl’s after-conflict trauma in her book Soldier On, and hopes our drive for justice for wounded troops will attract and unite individuals, couples and families facing similar situations.

“If anything is to be achieved, it’s important that people get together, so I’m very happy to support The Press campaign,” said Sue.

“I’m 100 per cent convinced that those who have suffered in the armed forces have to be treated better – I have always believed Carl was treated abysmally and given no support once he left the army.

“He had three years of fighting for treatment and for a £27-a-week pension which he only received after two appeal panels. What happened to him, somebody who fought for his country, is disgusting and meant we have struggled to survive as a family.

“I would just love to know how many people PTSD affects across North Yorkshire and I hope more of them will come forward and come together through this campaign and through The Press.

“There are surely some with these sort of mental problems who don’t know where to turn and are just waiting to say something about their situation, and if that can happen in a garrison town like York, I dread to think what the picture is in other parts of the country.”

Sue runs a military veterans’ awareness programme, also called Soldier On. More details are available at www.sue-white.com

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