Gallagher 'ignorant' for blasting 'moaning troops'

Oasis star Noel Gallagher was today branded “ignorant” after he told soldiers wounded in Iraq to stop moaning.

Veterans representative Ray Bristow said the guitarist only had the freedom to make such comments thanks to the sacrifice of thousands who gave their lives.

Mr Bristow accused Gallagher of “abusing his privileged position” by making “silly comments”.

In an interview with the Sun newspaper, the musician said Tony Blair’s decision to go to war was an “almighty cock-up” and also blasted troops who claim compensation for injuries suffered on the front line.

“You get a million people walking through Hyde Park – ‘Don’t send the troops and all that’,” he said in an interview to promote his band’s new album.

“The troops want to go, all they want to do is fight. They’re soldiers. They’re loving it, until they get shot – then they’re claiming compensation.

“If you’re bothered about getting shot – here’s a thing – don’t join the army.”

Mr Bristow, a trustee of the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association, said: “I think he’s an ignorant man – ignorant in the sense of not understanding.”

The former soldier said that Gallagher was only able to make such comments “on the back of thousands of soldiers’ lives” laid down for their country.

He said: “He [Gallagher] is in a privileged position in society where he is able to have free speech and make comments like he has made.

“But what enables him to have that privileged position and have free speech has cost this nation thousands upon thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and merchant seamen.”

Private Lionel O’Connor, 22, of 2 Royal Anglian, who had his leg amputated after being caught up in a roadside bomb attack in Basra, suggested Gallagher should go to Iraq to see what conditions were like for soldiers.

Pte O’Connor, who is recovering at a military rehabilitation centre in Surrey following the attack in May, said: “If he has got a comment like that, send him out there.”