Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I've just come across an un-finished email rant in my drafts folder, which has lain there for a little over a month now. It wasn't actually addressed to anyone and having read it back, I can't imagine I ever intended to send it. It looks as though I was just using Outlook to vent my rage (which is something I'm sure there poor person I just got off the phone from, wishes I would do more often!). Maybe I thought it might turn into a blog and I was just using Outlook as a note pad.
Whatever the intention, the cause of my frustration was an article in the Daily Mirror - although the Daily Mail shares the credit in raising my hackles. Now, there are plenty of Mail and Mirror readers about the office who seem relatively unscarred by the behaviour, but I have to confess, these two publications are not really my first choice when it comes to finding out what's going on in the world.
However, The Mirror did manage to attract my attention with it's headline on the 31st March this year, which read; “More British Troops Killed by Accident Than by the Enemy Over Past Decade”. The article featured figures showing how our armed forcespersonnel have died over the last 10 years.
Despite violent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during that time, it would appear (if you were to take the figures at face value) that the biggest threat to our armed forces is not military prowess of enemy armed forces - but the negligence amongst our own, with more of our forces being killed by non-combat accidents than were fatally wounded in battle.
Here are the figures...
1,601 British Service Personnel Died Between 2004 and 2013
- 553 died in non-combat accidents, including 372 in road traffic collisions
- 499 were killed in combat
- 219 died from cancer
- 131 deaths were given suicide or open verdicts by coroners
- 50 personnel died in other ways
*Figures obtained by Daily Mirror / Daily Mail.
Although the actual figures have not been called into question, what appears to have got my dander up and sparked my aimless email assault is the lack of context; for example they don’t show how many service personnel were in the UK and how many were on active duty in Iraq / Afghanistan. Do the armed forces personnel referred to in these figures relate to purely to combatants or do they include civilians in supporting roles?
If there were 250,000 armed forces personnel stationed around the world and only 50,000 of those were on active duty, for example, perhaps the seemingly high proportion of fatal non-combat injuries would not be quite so surprising.
Of course, for that to be true, we'd also need to have some idea of how the proportion of those non-combat accidents and ailments compare to their civilian counterparts. Is the proportion of accidental deaths above or even below, the national average for example?
So, if you're reading this piece hoping to discover if it's true that more British troops die in non-combat accidents than on the battlefield - according to figures from the Daily Mail & Daily Mirror the best answer I can offer is - it would appear so.
If you were hoping to find out if that's really as shocking as it sounds - I'm afraid these figures really don't tell us anything.
Armed Forces Accidents
In a previous post we looked at military personnel making army compensation claims where the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had been negligent. Included in this are injuries sustained from accidents that occur in combat zones, while not under fire, such as road traffic accidents involving military vehicles. Additionally personnel and vehicles having inadequate or ineffective equipment, could be eligible for an military compensation claim. As well as those injured whilst on adventure training or on exercise in camp.
If you, a friend or a member of your family, are a member of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy or RAF) and have suffered an injury due to the negligence of the MoD then you may be able to make a civil military injury claim for compensation (as well a claim via the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme). Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid compensation claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/343855/Do-More-British-Troops-Die-in-Non-Combat-Accidents-Than-in-Battle Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.