Two soldiers who were sent home from the Gulf after refusing to fight have been told that no further action will be taken against them.

The pair from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade were sent home in March and their case was taken up by Forces Law, a group of law firms acting for service personnel and their families.

Today the solicitor acting for the pair, Lincoln-based Gilbert Blades, said: "They have been told that no action is going to be taken against them. They are very pleased. Nothing will go on their record."

But he said the two, who are believed to be a private and an engineer from 16 Air Assault Brigade, do not want to be identified.

The Colchester pair were said to have told their commanding officers they did not want to fight in a war involving innocent civilians.

The MoD had denied that anyone had been sent back from the Gulf for refusing to fight.

And Colchester's garrison commander Colonel Tony Barton said that no-one from the brigade had been asked to be considered a conscientious objector.

Published Wednesday, May 28, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette