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Furious mother blasts MoD chiefs after
being forced to send warm clothes to
soldier son fighting in Afghanistan
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:28 PM on 7th January 2011
A mother had to send warm clothes to her freezing soldier son when the Army refused to issue more clothing.
The issue was taken up in the House Of Commons by Sharon Martin's local MP for Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, Dave Anderson.
Her son, Royal Engineer Alex Martin, 24, was serving in Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan and suffered during freezing nights. This week temperatures are set to plunge as low as -6 degrees Celcius at night.
Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan, sees temperatures plummet to -6 degrees Celcius at night
Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan, sees temperatures plummet to -6 degrees Celcius at night (file photo)
When the Ministry Of Defence (MoD) refused his request for warm clothing, he told friends and family he needed a winter fleece and waterproof jacket.
But Mrs Martin's son's request angered her when he revealed the Army issue wasn't due until February.
Mrs Martin contacted her local MP, but Ministry of Defence officials insist soldiers have adequate gear for winter service.
Mrs Martin, 51, of Ryton, Gateshead, said: 'When you are a mother of a soldier you learn to not get upset at certain things but this angered me and caused me concern. He was in a freezing cold part of the country and I had to send him a fleece and a warm waterproof jacket in November because it was too cold.
Appeal: Dave Anderson MP has raised the issue of inadequate clothing for British troops in Afghanistan in The Commons
Appeal: Dave Anderson MP has raised the issue of inadequate clothing for British troops in Afghanistan in The Commons
'His army clothing was not enough and his winter wear had not been sent out.
'I got in touch with Dave Anderson and he mentioned our case in the House of Commons. It is only right that those out in Afghanistan should be warm in winter.'
Mr Anderson told the House of Commons about Mrs Martin having to send warm clothing out to her soldier son because of MoD failings.
He also said he had asked the MoD for information, but that its response was 'not acceptable' - and that he hoped it would be embarrassed into doing the 'right thing.'
Speaking in the Commons, the Labour MP for Blaydon said: 'I was approached by my constituent, Sharon Martin, who informed me that she had that day sent out a fleece and winter clothing to her son, who is serving in Kabul.
'He had been advised by the Ministry of Defence that winter clothing would not be available in Afghanistan until February 2011.
'For the past week, I have tried to get the MoD to respond to this and I was told, 'Will you put it in writing? We will respond within 15 working days.' That is clearly not acceptable.'
Speaking later, Mr Anderson said: 'I've tried to resolve this as speedily as possible but the bureaucracy of the MoD moves slowly, hence my intervention.
'Parents and loved ones should be sending out Christmas parcels not winter clothing to our lads and lasses.
'My Government was, quite rightly, criticised for not taking proper care of the people at the sharp end. I don't want to do that but it seems the only way to get action - I hope - is to embarrass the MoD to do the right thing. I await their letter with interest.'
Alex, 24, a soldier in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) has been in the Army for seven years after leaving St Thomas Moore School in Blaydon, Gateshead.
He was sent out to Afghanistan in September and got in touch with his girlfriend to tell his family that he was suffering from the cold and needed extra layers.
Mrs Martin added: 'I got Mr Anderson involved not just for my son but for all the other soldiers who didn't have warm clothing. Mr Anderson rattled a few cages and the situation has now been resolved as Alex and the others have got their winter Army gear sent out to them now.
'This is the result we wanted. It was probably because Dave got in touch with the MoD.'
A MoD spokeswoman said: 'There is no shortage of winter clothing for troops in Afghanistan.
'All troops deployed during the colder months are issued with the appropriate warm clothing, and in addition extra stocks are kept in theatre. There is no need for any individual to supplement their winter clothing by other means.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...r-son-fighting-Afghanistan.html#ixzz1ANh0RCK8
being forced to send warm clothes to
soldier son fighting in Afghanistan
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:28 PM on 7th January 2011
A mother had to send warm clothes to her freezing soldier son when the Army refused to issue more clothing.
The issue was taken up in the House Of Commons by Sharon Martin's local MP for Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, Dave Anderson.
Her son, Royal Engineer Alex Martin, 24, was serving in Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan and suffered during freezing nights. This week temperatures are set to plunge as low as -6 degrees Celcius at night.
Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan, sees temperatures plummet to -6 degrees Celcius at night
Kabul, one of the coldest parts of Afghanistan, sees temperatures plummet to -6 degrees Celcius at night (file photo)
When the Ministry Of Defence (MoD) refused his request for warm clothing, he told friends and family he needed a winter fleece and waterproof jacket.
But Mrs Martin's son's request angered her when he revealed the Army issue wasn't due until February.
Mrs Martin contacted her local MP, but Ministry of Defence officials insist soldiers have adequate gear for winter service.
Mrs Martin, 51, of Ryton, Gateshead, said: 'When you are a mother of a soldier you learn to not get upset at certain things but this angered me and caused me concern. He was in a freezing cold part of the country and I had to send him a fleece and a warm waterproof jacket in November because it was too cold.
Appeal: Dave Anderson MP has raised the issue of inadequate clothing for British troops in Afghanistan in The Commons
Appeal: Dave Anderson MP has raised the issue of inadequate clothing for British troops in Afghanistan in The Commons
'His army clothing was not enough and his winter wear had not been sent out.
'I got in touch with Dave Anderson and he mentioned our case in the House of Commons. It is only right that those out in Afghanistan should be warm in winter.'
Mr Anderson told the House of Commons about Mrs Martin having to send warm clothing out to her soldier son because of MoD failings.
He also said he had asked the MoD for information, but that its response was 'not acceptable' - and that he hoped it would be embarrassed into doing the 'right thing.'
Speaking in the Commons, the Labour MP for Blaydon said: 'I was approached by my constituent, Sharon Martin, who informed me that she had that day sent out a fleece and winter clothing to her son, who is serving in Kabul.
'He had been advised by the Ministry of Defence that winter clothing would not be available in Afghanistan until February 2011.
'For the past week, I have tried to get the MoD to respond to this and I was told, 'Will you put it in writing? We will respond within 15 working days.' That is clearly not acceptable.'
Speaking later, Mr Anderson said: 'I've tried to resolve this as speedily as possible but the bureaucracy of the MoD moves slowly, hence my intervention.
'Parents and loved ones should be sending out Christmas parcels not winter clothing to our lads and lasses.
'My Government was, quite rightly, criticised for not taking proper care of the people at the sharp end. I don't want to do that but it seems the only way to get action - I hope - is to embarrass the MoD to do the right thing. I await their letter with interest.'
Alex, 24, a soldier in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) has been in the Army for seven years after leaving St Thomas Moore School in Blaydon, Gateshead.
He was sent out to Afghanistan in September and got in touch with his girlfriend to tell his family that he was suffering from the cold and needed extra layers.
Mrs Martin added: 'I got Mr Anderson involved not just for my son but for all the other soldiers who didn't have warm clothing. Mr Anderson rattled a few cages and the situation has now been resolved as Alex and the others have got their winter Army gear sent out to them now.
'This is the result we wanted. It was probably because Dave got in touch with the MoD.'
A MoD spokeswoman said: 'There is no shortage of winter clothing for troops in Afghanistan.
'All troops deployed during the colder months are issued with the appropriate warm clothing, and in addition extra stocks are kept in theatre. There is no need for any individual to supplement their winter clothing by other means.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...r-son-fighting-Afghanistan.html#ixzz1ANh0RCK8
