Press Release

Legion Greets Bishops Letter on Gulf War Illnesses

The Director General of The Royal British Legion today warmly endorsed the letter from the Bishop of Norwich and his colleagues to Prime Minister Tony Blair, on behalf of Gulf Veterans with medically unexplained illnesses and their families. 

The letter, signed by seven prominent Bishops, seeks urgent action from Her Majesty’s Government to bring closure to the issue of 1990/91 Gulf War Illnesses. 

“That the call for justice has been taken up by such senior members of the clergy must be a major comfort and support for those who feel their plight has been largely discounted and forgotten by the government of the country they served,” said Legion Director General Ian Townsend.

“The Legion repeats its call for practical measures which bring the long-term health and financial needs of stricken Gulf Veterans and their families to the fore. Gulf Veterans should be openly consulted and indeed be part of the process of deciding their future.  Appropriate compensation as proposed in the Lloyd reportand priority healthcare would go some way to alleviate the long term financial and medical burden placed on their families.

“These actions would bring about the closure so urgently recommended by former Chiefs of the Defence Staff Lord Craig of Radley and Lord Bramall and former Gulf War Commander General Sir Peter de la Billiére in their letter to the Times on