UK veterans who served at the United States military base Camp Lejeune and were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water have been “let down” by the Ministry of Defence says a former army officer.
In a least a dozen cases retired armed forces personnel believe their time spent at the US Marine training facility in North Carolina may have caused serious illnesses, including different forms of cancer.
Those who served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 are urged to seek legal advice before a window of opportunity to apply for compensation closes on August 10th, 2024.
Hudgell Solicitors part of BBC investigation
Veterans have told the BBC award-winning current affairs documentary series ‘File on 4’, they have not been supported by the UK’s Ministry of Defence with any information regarding their exposure to the toxic water supply, despite the US Government’s estimate that as many as one million people may have been exposed.
BBC reporter Emma Forde hears from the British veterans and their families who lived and worked on the base and have since suffered serious health problems or seen loved ones die from conditions associated with exposure to the water.
The programme, ‘Something in the Water: The Secrets of Camp Lejeune’ explores why, despite a compensation scheme for victims being widely reported in the US, there are concerns that those from the UK are still unaware of the serious health risks they were exposed to, and she says, “time is running out”.
Former Warrant Office Richard York is one of several veterans who served at Camp Lejeune being supported by Hudgell Solicitors in their claim for compensation for military injuries.
“The Ministry of Defence in my opinion has done absolutely nothing,” he told the BBC.
The 68-year-old has survived both bladder and prostate cancer and believes his time spent at the US facility may have caused his illnesses.
The former soldier lived at the base for three months in 1985 as part of a British Army training team.
I would advise people to see legal advice because the MoD has not been helpful.
There will be people out there who have served and fallen ill, and others who have passed away; they and their families won’t necessarily know they can apply for compensation.
I can’t believe the MoD can’t contact everyone who served at Camp Lejeune to advise them.
The excuse they give for not doing so is lame, an organisation like that should have the resources and documentation available to help veterans and their families. Someone should take ownership and responsibility. The MoD has a duty of care, but I’ve seen none of it, not one iota.
It’s believed the contaminated water is responsible for causing numerable cancers as well as Parkinson’s disease, renal failure and more. Some of the illnesses linked to toxic tap water at Camp Lejeune include:
- Adult leukaemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Oesophageal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
In 2022 the US president, Joe Biden, signed the PACT Act allowing former servicemen and their families who became seriously ill to apply for awards.
Mr York asked the MoD to confirm that he was sent to Camp Lejeune and to confirm the dates.
I was there on two different occasions, but my record of discharge – the red book – only says I was in the US on two occasions not at Camp Lejeune
In the end I managed to ask three former colleagues who were there with me, including a Captain, to write letters stating I was based there for training. Nothing from the MoD ever materialised.
‘Hundreds’ of British servicemen stationed at Camp Lejeune
Research conducted by Hudgell’s military claims experts suggests hundreds of British servicemen were stationed at the camp on training exercises over the four decades.
In 1973 alone it was recorded that 800 members of the British Royal Marine 40 Commando Group were at the base.
Paul McClorry of Hudgell Solicitors, an expert in representing clients in international personal injury claims, told the BBC programme:
In the US, thousands of former servicemen and women are pursuing claims because of the devastating effects the poisoned drinking water has had on their health.
The US Government has taken active and constructive steps to enable its own veterans to seek compensation. However, here in the UK there is silence on the issue and that can’t be right.
A number of British veterans have contacted us at Hudgell Solicitors and we have undertaken to do whatever we can to ensure that should their health and their lives have been put at risk by these poisons we will fight for their right to compensation through the US justice system, which we have done for so many other clients over the years.
Anyone “injured” is eligible for compensation if they spent at least 30 days living or working at the base between 1953 and 1987; those 30 days do not have to be continuous.
In the US thousands of claims have been filed, setting up the potential for one of the largest mass litigations in U.S. history.
Mr McClorry, who is also co-chair of the American Association for Justice’s International Practice Section (an association of personal injury lawyers acting for claimants in American courts), is working alongside US lawyer Mike Doyle whose practice includes the representation of plaintiffs in maritime personal injury, international and trans-national personal injury.
Legal Advice
If you or a loved one were stationed, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 for 30 days or more, you may have a route to compensation. It is important to seek legal advice right away as, under the new US law, claims can only be brought before 10th August 2024.
Read more: Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
