AN ASIAN worker at a BP filling station provoked fury by turning away a soldier because he was in uniform.
The shocked Army officer – wearing combat fatigues – was told to go away and change before he could buy beer from the service station shop.
But witnesses claimed the snub was due to the attendant’s antiwar views.
The incident is the latest in a series of blows to Forces personnel, who feel neglected by the nation.
The officer is a captain with 16 Air Assault Brigade, whose 5,000 troops fought heroically against the Taliban in Afghanistan last summer.
He said the public snub – at Wisley South Connect station on the A3 near Guildford, Surrey – left him humiliated and shamed in front of a dozen other customers.
He asked to remain anonymous in case of reprisal attacks by extremists, but reported the incident to BP and to the Army Families Federation.
The federation’s spokeswoman Melanie Pullan told The Sun: “I talked to this officer, and it was very disappointing to hear his experiences. It made our blood boil.
“We would ask the nation to get behind their troops, considering the sort of sacrifice so many are making.
“Their war has never been against Muslims. It’s a shame people can’t respect their service to the country, whether you agree with the politics behind it or not.”
BP last night issued a grovelling apology to the officer, claiming it was a bungle over the licensing laws and NOT a result of prejudice or politics.
A BP spokeswoman said: “We apologise sincerely to the Army officer for the inconvenience and embarrassment that has been caused.
“None of our staff has the right to discriminate on who they serve, regardless of what they are wearing.
“We investigated the incident and believe it was caused by an error in interpretation of the licensing laws. Retraining of staff is now taking place.”
BP insisted the snub was a simple misunderstanding.
A spokesman claimed the attendant thought it was illegal to sell alcohol to cops in uniform, and assumed the same rule applied to squaddies.
But witnesses who saw the incident are adamant it had nothing to do with licensing laws, and was based instead on the worker’s political views and prejudice against soldiers.
There is a growing feeling among military personnel that their huge sacrifices are no longer valued by their nation.
Worried Army chief, General Sir Richard Dannatt last month warned of a growing gulf between the public and our Armed Forces.
Ten days ago, The Sun told how not one person turned up to support Grenadier Guards at a London parade on their return home from Afghanistan.
And yesterday we revealed how thugs had vandalised the homes and cars of squaddies while they were away in war zones.
3 comments:
Utterly dispicable. I hope BO sacked thisracist git, though I doubt it in the oh so politically correct UK og today.
I just had to write though to let this soldier and other military personel know that all the British people I know do back our forces,and admire their courage and fortitude. Our PC so called Goverment and media is however another matter.
Utterly dispicable. I hope BO sacked thisracist git, though I doubt it in the oh so politically correct UK og today.
I just had to write though to let this soldier and other military personel know that all the British people I know do back our forces,and admire their courage and fortitude. Our PC so called Goverment and media is however another matter.
Utterly dispicable. I hope BP sacked this racist git, though I doubt it in the oh so politically correct UK of today.
I just had to write though to let this soldier and other military personel know that all the British people I know do back our forces,and admire their courage and fortitude. Our PC so called Goverment and media is however another matter.
Resubmitted owing to typos
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