WAR heroes and former military commanders last night slammed Prince Harry’s “offensive” claims that the media did nothing to support our heroes.
In his new Netflix series, Harry claims he was angry that media outlets like The Sun ignored British troops wounded in Afghanistan.
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A number of war heroes and former military commanders have condemned Prince Harry’s ‘offensive’ claims
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Harry claims he was angry the media ignored British soldiers wounded in AfghanistanCredit: PA: Press Association
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On his latest money-making Netflix series, Harry said: ‘I was angry that the media didn’t cover it’ Credit: Pixel8000
In reality, we’ve been advocating for our servicemen and women for years — and launched a campaign supporting Help For Heroes BEFORE Harry’s first war zone tour.
Former force commander Lord Richard Dannatt echoed the late Queen, saying: “Memories may differ.”
Former para and veteran fighter Ben Parkinson has spoken out after the prince hit the press in his latest money-making Netflix series.
Harry seems to forget that in 2007 – before his first tour of Afghanistan in 2008 – we launched a campaign to support the charity Help For Heroes, which raised £370 million.
And our first Sun Military Awards, the Millies — a salute to the bravest of the brave — launched in 2008, having been planned before he headed to the war zone.
Ben, who lost both legs, broke his back and suffered brain damage in a Land Rover landmine explosion in 2006, defied doctors to survive and learn to walk and talk again.
The 39-year-old MBE — winner of the Overcoming Adversity award at our first Millies — said of Harry: “I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“The Sun and the media in general have been amazing to me and have been incredibly supportive of my family.”
Mum Diane — who led the Sun’s successful campaign to significantly increase compensation payments to wounded soldiers — said: “We could never have done it without the support of the media.
“I’m not sure what Prince Harry is trying to say, but that’s certainly not my experience.”
Lord Dannatt, 72, was Chief of the General Staff when Harry served and brokered the blackout deal that allowed his tour to go ahead.
A year earlier, he linked up with the founders of the Help For Heroes charity Bryn and Emma Parry and received key support from the Sun.
Lord Dannatt said: “To be fair, I would say that Prince Harry’s memories are not as clear as they could be.
“He may remember the support he and William gave to Help For Heroes in the early days as it was launched on 1 October 2007.
“There is no doubt that Prince Harry, returning from his deployment to Afghanistan with injured soldiers, has brought a new focus to the sacrifice many families have made.
“But his comments and that focus were one of many and there has already been a shift in public support for our repairers.”
In the Netflix series, former helicopter pilot Harry says: “As we took off, the curtain in front of me opened and all you could see was the air hospital.
“Three young soldiers all wrapped in plastic and their bodies in pieces. I saw what only people talked about. It was a real trigger to see the true cost of war.
“Not just these individuals, but their families and how their lives would be changed forever.
“Getting off the plane, I was angry about what happened to those guys — I was angry that the media didn’t cover it.
“But at that moment it was not clear to me what to do.”
His tour was only possible because the media maintained a strict news blackout.
He eventually rushed back to the UK after his 10-week No. 1 position was leaked on an American website.
Lord Dannatt added: “The fact that he got there at all was a miracle; the fact that he was able to stay there for a month to qualify for his medal was wonderful.
“I can only say that his recollection of the sequence of events was a little hazy because by then there was genuine concern for the welfare of veterans.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “To claim that the media outlets did not fight for our injured soldiers is insulting and stupid.
“If it hadn’t been for The Sun highlighting the vets’ concerns, there wouldn’t have been an avalanche of charitable giving to veterans organizations.
“And Harry wouldn’t have gotten the PR boost that raised his profile when he turned up at those events.
“The Sun has also been front and center in a campaign pressing the Government to do more for PTSD sufferers, and I am part of it.
“And the media in general has been in full support of our servicemen and women since the terrorist attack of 9/11.”
Veteran Grenadier Guards Major Bernie Broad lost his legs in an Afghan landmine explosion in 2009.
But he has rebuilt his life thanks to support from Harry’s Invictus Games — and media campaigns supporting veterans.
Wheelchair rugby star Bernie, 57, who captained England’s 90-strong Invictus team in 2017, said: “I’ve always found the media to be very supportive.
“I well remember groups like Help For Heroes standing up and beating their chests for the military and the press supporting our armed forces for a long time.
“At the time there were a lot of reports and tributes to those who died, as well as people like me, and that was great to see for the families as well. I keep all the cuttings. It definitely helped.
“I’ve met Harry a few times and I like him.
“But he’s from another world and sees what he wants to see. This is very confident of him.”
Invictus gold medalist Andy Phillips, a 57-year-old RAF armorer who suffered life-changing back injuries before the 1990 Gulf War, said: “The Invictus Games gave me a huge boost but it’s wrong to say the media didn’t did nothing.
“When the war in Afghanistan started, the media was 100 percent on the side.”
As well as getting behind Help For Heroes and launching Millies, Sun successfully campaigned for a memorial to soldier Lee Rigby, who was killed by terrorists in London in 2013.
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Former para and veteran fighter Ben Parkinson has spoken out saying: ‘The Sun and the media in general have been amazing to me and have been incredibly supportive of my family’ Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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In 2007 our campaign supporting the charity Help For Heroes raised £370m Credit: Daniel Jones – The News of the World
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