Your Oxford
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email »
Ex-officer claims RAF gave him war disease
6:06pm Thursday 13th March 2008
A former RAF officer has called for a Government investigation into Gulf War Syndrome which he says has ruined his life - despite not seeing action in the 1991 war.
David Bratley, of West Hanney, is convinced 17 injections he had over 17 days before he was due to be deployed is the cause of 19 years of chronic health problems.
Mr Bratley, 60, said: "I'm calling for a proper inquiry into these injections and a proper investigation by the British Government into the disease.
"The injections made me ill and then it snowballed from there. And I know there are other people in the same position as me.
"The Government has never offered me any treatment. They do not look after people, they just use and abuse."
Thousands of war veterans say they are suffering Gulf War Syndrome, which they say has left them a life-time of fatigue, rashes and sleeping problems since they returned from combat. The Government is adamant the injections did not cause a problem.
Mr Bratley, a self-employed photographer, was diagnosed with a series of symptoms experienced by troops who served in the Middle East. But he said: "I'm certain, absolutely certain it was the injections. I haven't been right since. At the time they said I would feel ill over the weekend.
"I think that was a bit of an understatement. It was too much for the immune system to take.
All of them together and they just blew a fuse."
The father-of-three did not serve in the Gulf after military chiefs decided not to deploy more troops. He was vaccinated against diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, polio and meningitis.
Mr Bratley said he became ill immediately and his symptoms have remained the same since. He added: "I can't lead a normal life and I can't do a full time job. I'm tired all the time. I need to sleep a lot, probably about 12 hours a day, but I don't wake up feeling refreshed."
US research suggests health problems suffered by Gulf War veterans may be due to pesticide exposure and nerve agents, and Mr Bratley did not deny these could be factors.
Only three of his injections are recorded by the MoD, and Mr Bratley is convinced the Government has something to hide.
MoD spokesman Paul Leat said "overwhelming evidence" from their research showed the inoculations had no adverse health effects.
Your Say YourOxford
Mr Ison, England says...
6:44pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Mr Ison, England says...
7:06pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Given that in the past they were told to shut up and die already,and more recently the new labour refered to the undoubtable incident as a cold war hoax,it seems unlikely with new labour in power that Australians will get an answer to their questions from their allies.
Ian, Wantage says...
7:35pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Mr Ison, England says...
7:53pm Thu 13 Mar 08
reality check, oxford says...
10:49pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Mr Ison, England says...
10:52pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Casual Observer, Oxford says...
10:24am Fri 14 Mar 08
I'm not saying the guy is not ill, but the article states that he is suffering from various symptoms which all manner of people who are not in the forces suffer from as well.
He said "The injections made me ill and it just snowballed from there....It was too much for the immune system to take.All of them together and they just blew a fuse." Hardly a precise medical diagnosis is it?
Every study that I've seen shows that Gulf Vets are just as healthy as any other representative group. They are susceptible to the same illnesses as you and me.
This guy simply doesn't feel well, doctors can't give him a definitive diagnosis (which happens all the time by the way) and now he's convinced he has Gulf War Syndrome.
I've read about countless theories for this mythical disease, ranging from the injections they received, exposure to chemical weapons, insecticides, DU and God knows what else. I've still to see a peer reviewed study that gives credence to any of them. Instead the government flies in the face of science and awards sop payments, which hardly helps the situation. All we seem to be doing is sending signals to vets that the illnesses they happen to have are in some way different to the illnesses that we all suffer from and that they can be cured in different ways. It also serves to spread fear amongst healthy vets that every time they get ill, their illness is somehow related to their service.
Baz, Wantage says...
11:13am Fri 14 Mar 08
Ian wrote:Ian, the guy is ill, he's working part-time when he could be sat on his backside drawing benefits.
Lazy git!I ve never heard so much crap in all my life
He was an officer so I doubt very much he is, or was ever, lazy.
If you must comment, try to think first and be reasonable,
there's a good lad.
pat, scotland says...
3:49pm Fri 14 Mar 08
Suddenly died three months ago. PM does not state Gulf War Syndrome as legally I do not think there is such a thing but there are certainly things that need answers.
Health records before going for injections were practically non-existant. In the three years plus roughly after injections had been over 30 times and many times not at work which was very unusual before injections.
I most certainly believe in Gulf War whatever they want to call it - I believe the injections they are given are not all they are made out to be.
Why do MOD want this persons record of injects with batch nos etc (it should have been retained by MO but person who died retained it!)is this to try to cover up.
Please remember everybody is an individual and every person reacts differently to each substance.
I understand a senior officer is aware partner has the injection records and has said that questions need to be answered and partner may hold key to some of the answers.
Malcolm Hooper (Prof), Sunderland SR3 1PA says...
4:39pm Fri 14 Mar 08
Mr Ison, England says...
8:05pm Fri 14 Mar 08
We are seeing that in effect.
Mr Ison, England says...
5:14pm Sat 15 Mar 08
It is a lesson in institutional irresposibility that should not be ignored.
John Stone, N.London says...
9:00am Mon 17 Mar 08
http://www.ageofauti
sm.com/
I was appalled by the uneducated comments of Ian of Wantage, as well as the educated ones of Casual Observer.
I wonder why people do not identify themselves properly?
Adrian Willson, Taunton says...
11:08pm Sat 5 Apr 08
Adrian Willson, Taunton says...
11:15pm Sat 5 Apr 08
l) study of ill Gulf Veterans in 1996, he targeted most of the Non-deployed sick veterans but we know of only one Deployed sick veteran out of 2500 who was included in Wessely's study for the MoD. When published, Wessely divided his subjects into two groups Depolyed and Non-deployed, and unsurprisingly he concluded there was no difference in the conditions suffered by each group. This flawed research has been used and quoted by the MoD as justification for denying that we are ill as a result of our service in the Gulf. When Major Christine Lloyd was invited to speak to an invited audience in the Royal Robing Room, House of Lords on Tuesday 12th April 2005, she said As one of the first veterans to report illness I find it incredible that I have never been asked to take part in any paper research. One wonders who and how are the participants chosen. A full Public Inquiry and proper research is long overdue and badly needed now.
Terry Bratley, Halifax Yorkshire says...
9:58pm Tue 20 May 08
I can assure you my brother was not the same man after having these injections, he would often fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I myself was a soldier, serving three tours of Northern Ireland in the service of our Country can the people who condem my brother match oue family commitment. I see thwey hide behind sillynames and do not have the courage to submit their real names. I know my brother is ill as are many other servicemen and believe the injections are to blame. I only hope in time this is proved.
Your sayYourOxford
Add your comment
Register for a FREE Oxford Mail account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
In this section
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Mr Ison, England says...
6:23pm Thu 13 Mar 08