'War chest' campaign for soldiers

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A charity has launched a new fundraising campaign to help build a "war chest" to meet the future welfare needs of soldiers and their families.

The Army Benevolent Fund fears it will be difficult to meet demands due to the "continuing stream of military casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan".

Afghanistan is a particular concern, with 32 British troops killed and at least 138 seriously injured this year.

So far this year, two British soldiers have been killed in Iraq.

The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), known as the Soldiers' Charity, warned that the level of casualties, especially from Afghanistan, is likely to lead to even greater demands for its help in the future.

The independent charity's controller, Major-General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, said it must start preparing now.

Its current operations fund was set up last year to support soldiers injured as a result of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With emergency medical care in the field vastly improved, more badly injured soldiers are surviving than ever before.

Mental scars

The charity said the injured able to remain in the Army are well looked after, but extra help is often needed when veterans leave.

The ABF also points out that the mental scars can take many years to manifest themselves, with veterans often only seeking help for post-traumatic stress years after leaving the Armed Forces.

The announcement of the fundraising drive comes days after Admiral Lord Boyce, a former chief of the defence staff, called for more public recognition for those left permanently disabled as a result of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

British forces are now being killed in Afghanistan at a faster rate than during the invasion of Iraq.

There are 4,100 British troops in Iraq, compared to 7,800 in Afghanistan. The latter contingent is stationed mainly in Helmand Province.

The ABF is dependent on voluntary donations and has been in operation for 60 years.

It provides support to serving soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need, whether it is a stair-lift for an injured veteran or a holiday for a war widow and their children.