Iraq hero hits out at Hercules inquest

Published on Saturday 25 October 2008 19:27

THE army officer whose rousing speech famously inspired soldiers before they went into battle in Iraq has criticised the "compensation culture" that led to an inquest being held into the deaths of 10 British servicemen killed when their RAF Hercules was shot down.

Col Tim Collins said "nothing on earth" would have saved the men and added that those serving their country should be aware that "weird stuff" happens at war.

His remarks drew a furious response from families of the men who perished when their aircraft went down in Iraq.

They came as new defence secretary John Hutton said forces were well equipped but "past failures" must not be repeated.

Last week, the coroner for Wiltshire found that the men's lives could have been saved if protective foam around the aircraft's fuel tanks had been fitted when it was shot down flying between Baghdad and Balad in January 2005.

Collins said: "My understanding is that the Hercules was hit by a rocket which took it out right in the heart and nothing on this earth would have saved them."

The former Royal Irish Regiment officer also accused New Labour of fostering a compensation culture and when asked whether an inquest could provide comfort for victims' families, he replied: "What answers are you looking for? They were in a war zone and you're in an aircraft that's been hit by a massive rocket. That's the answer. If you do join up – weird stuff happens in war."

Collins compared modern attitudes with those during the Second World War by referring to the disastrous sinking of HMS Hood during the Battle of Denmark Strait in 1941.

"Should we be looking at the case of HMS Hood again and have coroners into the loss of 1,145 people on that day?" he asked. "The answer is firm leadership and it (compensation culture] is happening because of the poor leadership of New Labour, which has devolved everything to coroners and quangos."

In 2003, Collins' address to soldiers hours before they entered into battle in Iraq made headlines round the world. He won much praise saying: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory".

But his latest outburst appalled the families of the Hercules victims.

Sarah Chapman, the sister of Robert O'Connor, a technician on board the aircraft, said she was "very disappointed and saddened" by Collins' remarks. "Tim Collins is obviously very old school," she said. "Yes, they were in a war zone, but let's just remember that all of their chances to cope with their attacks were removed, not by insurgents, but by those who were supposed to protect their safety and apply their duty of care.

"To come out with a tired old phrase like compensation culture and to use it in relation to the families is insulting."

On his return from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan last night, new Defence Secretary John Hutton said British forces he had met were "better equipped than they have ever been".

But he said failures to provide troops with the best possible kit must not be repeated, adding: "I accept this has not always been the case and we must continue to make changes in response to recent inquiries like those of Corporal Wright, who died attempting to save one of his comrades, and the 10 men shot down by enemy fire in a Hercules.

We owe all those who risk their lives on our behalf a huge debt. I will do everything at my disposal to repay and honour that sacrifice."