Former Redditch soldier appeals for help after 'army fails him' - The Redditch Standard

Former Redditch soldier appeals for help after 'army fails him'

Redditch Editorial 22nd May, 2019 Updated: 23rd May, 2019   0

A FORMER soldier from Redditch who accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of breaching its duty of care is trying to raise enough cash for a retrial.

Wayne Bass took the MoD to the Royal Courts of Justice in London after he contracted Q fever in Afghanistan – a disease which can be caught by breathing in dust from the faeces of infected farm animals.

Mr Bass claims he often had to find shelter in ditches full of sheep and goat excrement during 2011, while serving as a private in the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment.

“It was a seven-day trial but unfortunately I lost,” said Mr Bass.




“Had the army provided me with right antibiotics at the time, I would have been protected from this debilitating disease.”

Mr Bass, 34, was medically discharged from the Army in 2014 because of his Q fever and chronic fatigue symptoms.


He says he can only walk a few hundred metres before getting breathless and experiencing aches and pains which he takes strong painkillers for.

“My solictors believe it was a very poor decision and we would like to get a re-trial because without it, I can’t see a future for myself.”

But due to the high costs of getting a retrial, Mr Bass has set up a ‘Crowd Justice’ page where people can donate towards his legal fees.

“I know there are many other army veterans who are in similar situations,” added Mr Bass.

“They are all waiting on the outcome of my case having also been abandoned by the Ministry of Defence and struggling with a range of serious medical conditions.”

So far Mr Bass has raised £350, although needs between £10,000 to £30,000 to cover legal costs.

To donate head to https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/qfever/?utm_source=case_page_social&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_content=case_page_below_amounts&utm_campaign=qfever

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