Falklands war hero angry that he won’t receive pension for fighting for his country aged 17

WAR hero Mick Southall fought in one of the fiercest battles of the Falklands campaign yet the MOD says his service as a 17-year-old won’t count towards his pension.
Sergeant Mick Southall of Melbourne Road, Blacon, is fighting to overturn pension rules which meant he was not treated as a fully-fledged soldier until he turned 18.
Mr Southall, 45, who retired from the Army last year after 28 years, says the money he is asking for amounts to ‘pennies’.
He explained: “It’s just another example of the way soldiers are forgotten when they leave. It’s a matter of principle. It’s nothing to do with the money. I’m not materialistic.
“It’s just the fact that they are in effect saying I never fought in a war – it doesn’t count as military service.”Back in 1982, Mr Southall was a private with 3 Para fighting against the Argentineans in the battle of Mount Longdon which claimed many lives on both sides.
The rifleman was involved in the action which saw Sergeant Ian McKay win a posthumous Victoria Cross for charging an Argentinean position only to be killed as he captured it. He himself has been awarded six medals and served in Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

So according to the MOD Paratrooper Mick Southall didn’t officially fight in a War because he was 17. This is disgusting and immoral Do the pen pushers at the MOD think 17 yr old Pte Jason Burt was in a War? RIP.