Desert Storm troops to hand back medals

British veterans of Operation Desert Storm are to make the ultimate gesture of their sense of betrayal at government inaction over Gulf War syndrome. Next month, dozens will go to the Ministry of Defence to hand back the medals they won serving Queen and country.

They were intended as symbols of heroism. Silver medals, bearing the airman's eagle, the sailor's anchor and the soldier's SA80 rifle, were issued to those who returned home victorious from war in the desert. The sandy stripe on the ribbon was a reference to the difficult terrain in which the 51,000 holders of the new Gulf War medal had risked their lives.

But just as thousands of the returning troops have fallen ill or died since the war, so the medals themselves have lost their lustre; the badges of pride have become objects of loathing for many sick veterans.

Next month, in the most dramatic display of their anger since the end of the conflict, scores of veterans will converge on the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall to return their medals.

The mass protest is believed to be unprecedented in the history of the armed forces and will underline the sense of abandonment felt by many of those who have become ill since serving in the war.

Their sense of isolation has been enhanced by their belief that the Government has abandoned Labour's pre-election promises that they would be fairly treated.

Richie Turnbull, a Chester-based Royal Air Force veteran, said: "The MoD have betrayed us, taken away our health and in some cases people's lives. They may as well also have the pride we had in our medals because we can't use them to pay our medical bills ... The ministers may have changed but the civil servants responsible for the ... disinformation are still there."

Since the idea of returning the medals was first mooted among veterans three days ago, 67 former Gulf troops have pledged to take part. Dozens more are expected to join the protest which is scheduled to coincide with next month's seventh anniversary of the start of the air war in the Gulf.

Members of both the Gulf Veterans Association and the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association will be handing back medals. The families of at least two dead veterans are also participating in the protest.

The veterans are demanding a full and independent inquiry into Gulf War illness and the way the MoD has handled the issue. They believe that an inquiry would improve their rights to war pensions and benefits and strengthen their legal claims for compensation. They say that 140 veterans have died since returning from the Gulf and up to 6,000 are sick. Some 1,900 have registered for treatment with the official Medical Assessment Programme.

Sean Rusling, who was a paramedic with the 4th battalion, the Parachute Regiment, felt an overwhelming sense of achievement when he first received his medal.

"I was very, very proud ... There are people walking about today because I was able to give paramedical assistance to them."

Mr Rusling, of Hull, is now sick, and feels the Government has failed him. "Such is my distress and sadness at the way the veterans have been treated that if it takes this gesture to make them sit up and think then we will throw the medals back at them."

Last night Dr John Reid, the Armed Forces Minister, said he and the Ministry of Defence had put unprecendented effort into investigating Gulf War illnesses and the Government had doubled the resources allocated to the problem.