A FORMER soldier is battling with the Army to win compensation after being shot in the leg by a fellow squaddie.
Adam Davies, 21, of Brecknell Rise, Kidderminster, has been left with a pension of £15 a week after being discharged from the Army on medical grounds four weeks ago.
The Army has denied liability for the accident which happened three years ago at Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire.
Adam, who served with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiment, was on guard at the barracks with Pte Alan Hall.
He said: "Obviously I thought Alan was joking when he said 'do I have permission to shoot you'.
"So I said 'yes' and then he pulled the trigger.
"The bullet went into my left thigh, severed an artery, broke in two and then came out the other side."
The injured teenager spent four days fighting for his life in intensive care and weeks in hospital in Salisbury while doctors tried to save his leg.
After his ordeal Adam received a pension and a £2,400 payoff.
But the Ministry of Defence insisted the Army was not responsible and refused to pay him compensation.
Pte Hall was court martialled, jailed and thrown out of the Army.
Adam said: "Nothing will make up for the damage that has been done.
"I've lost my career and my future in the Army and I will suffer problems with my leg for the rest of my life. It's my worst nightmare."
His father Steve, who has been spearheading the campaign with ex-wife Wendy, said: "In my opinion the Army has failed my son.
"This act has ruined my son's life. Outwardly at present he is not too bad but I fear for the future."
Mr Davies is writing to mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, whose constituency covers Hartlebury to enlist support for his campaign.
A website devoted to the cause just-for-adam.com is expected to be up-and-running next week.
An MOD spokesman said: "He will almost certainly get a war pension on medical grounds but the War Pension Agency could not start processing his claim until he was formally discharged from the Army."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article