FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE

Soldiers' loved ones want justice

Samantha's husband, Sergeant Steve Roberts, was the first British soldier to be killed in action in Iraq during March 2003. Samantha has now turned BBC reporter to reveal the plight of war widows like herself, fighting for justice.

Eighteen months after Steve was killed, Samantha still doesn't know the full circumstances surrounding his death.

She believes that the treatment war widows receive from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) leaves a lot to be desired.

Kept in the dark

Samantha Roberts wants justice for war widows

Sgt Steve Roberts, a tank commander, was killed in a "friendly fire" incident whilst trying to quell a riot in Basra.

It was only days after troops entered the region.

His widow Samantha, who lives in Shipley, was left in the dark, not knowing how it actually happened.

She feels she was not told enough by the MoD.

As well as dealing with her husband's death, Samantha also had to begin the difficult task of getting compensation.

She only gets 40% of the pension her husband would have received after leaving the Army. On this sum, many widows struggle to survive.

"I'm shocked by the way war widows are treated by the Ministry of Defence," Samantha said. "Now I want to say what I really think."

"Friendly fire" turns fatal

Sgt Steve Roberts was killed by "friendly fire"

Sgt Steve Roberts was sent over to Iraq in March 2003 as part of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.

On March 24, 2003 the regiment were called to control a riot near Al Zubayr, southwest of Basra.

During the ensuing scuffle, Steve was shot in the chest by "friendly fire". One Iraqi was also killed.

After the event it emerged that Steve was not wearing body armour with ceramic plates, which could have saved his life.

A recent MoD report showed that Steve was issued with body armour but was told to give it to others judged more "at risk" because his regiment did not have enough to go around.

Not alone

Samantha Roberts is not the only war widow to be left asking questions.

She took on the job of reporting for Inside Out and went to visit others who are living with the effects of war every day.

Anna Aston, from Derbyshire, is still trying to unravel the details surrounding her husband Russell's death.

Anna Aston doesn't know the full details of husband Russell's death

Corporal Russell Aston, who joined the Army in 1993, was one of six military policemen killed in June, 2003 when a mob stormed a police station in Iraq's Al Majar al-Kabir.

Anna said she is still waiting for the details of how her husband died.

She has been told that she may not be allowed access to the full evidence heard by a military inquiry into her husband's death.

Anna and her daughter now have to learn to live without Russell, yet still don't feel that they know the whole truth behind his death.

"Russ was a doting father who had lots and lots of friends. When he walked into a room he filled it with his height and presence," Anna said.

Added hurdles

Samantha also visited Anna Homsi whose partner Brad, from Harrogate, was killed in Sierra Leone.

An SAS Trooper, Brad Tinnion was killed when he helped rescue 11 soldiers held hostage by rebels in the West African country in September 2000.

Because Anna and Brad weren't married, Anna is left facing added problems.

Although the couple had been together for over seven years and Anna was pregnant with their daughter at the time Brad was killed, she was originally refused a war pension.

After a public campaign Anna received a lump sum from the MoD, which was still less than she would have received had she and Brad been married.

Anna had mixed feelings about accepting the offer but needs to ensure that she and her daughter can survive.

Getting things changed

In the light of meeting these fellow war widows, Samantha feels that something needs to be done.

"I'm impressed by the bravery of these women, but they deserve some answers from the Ministry of Defence," she said.

Many soldiers leave wives and children at home in the UK

In a statement, the MoD defended the level of compensation paid to widows and said, from next April, more money would be given to unmarried partners.

The Ministry said, "We fully understand the desire of bereaved families to know the circumstances in which their loved ones died.

"We try very hard to provide proper support and information… we are especially grateful for the assistance of Mrs Roberts and others in this regard.

"We recognise that mistakes in providing this support have been made in the past and are determined that these should not be repeated."

Moving on

Losing a loved one at any stage of life is one of the hardest things a person will go through. Losing a loved one amidst a veil of secrecy must be even harder.

With Samantha Roberts' campaigning, hopefully war widows in the future will not have to contend with fighting the authorities just to discover what happened to their partners.

And hopefully soldiers representing our country will be able to go away, knowing that their families will be looked after, should the worst happen.