Soldier sues British Army on grounds of ethnicity

A British soldier is suing the Ministry of Defence for £200,000 on the grounds of his West African ethnicity in the High Court in London.

Gershon Rawlings, 33, claims he suffered severe cold during a military exercise at Sennybridge in Wales.

The black man has brought the negligence claim saying being born in Ghana made him more likely to suffer cold than other troops.

His lawyers say Rawlings suffered “numbness and tingling in his feet” after being made to sleep outdoors in a waterproof poncho.

Rawlings says in his filed court papers that he was forced to remain out in “very cold and wet” conditions during an exercise with the Royal Artillery in October 2013, the British newspaper, The Sun reported.

He complained to his sergeant, but the sergeant told Rawlings other soldiers were cold too and he should “man up”.

The black soldier claims he was thus “disadvantaged” and his job prospects suffered as a result.

Because the Army did not allow for his “particular vulnerabilities” by providing him only with standard issue waterproof boots and standard issue gloves like all the other soldiers, he is suing them.

He says despite his diagnosis “non-freezing cold injuries” he was still required to stand parade, “required to work in open, cold garages”, and carry out guard duties outside.

When contacted, Rawlings told The Sun: “Everything is with the lawyers. I have an anxiety issue so can’t speak to you.”

A comment on photographs posted on Facebook of the ex-soldier wearing fatigues, reads: “Strong man in war front.”

The case comes only months after Abdoulie Bojang, Gambian by birth, sued the MoD after suffering cold injuries in Banff, Canada, where temperatures drop to minus 30C.