Sir, - I heard on the radio news that some soldiers of the Irish Army who suffered sunburn while serving in warm climates are considering making a compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence for failure to issue suncream lotion.
During the last war, soldiers in the British Army who allowed sunburn to interfere with the ability to carry out their duties were accused of causing a self-inflicted wound. In extreme cases, this was a court-martial offence.
How times, and soldiers, have changed. - Yours, etc.,
(Major, retd.), Dalkey, Co Dublin.