Dead soldier sent letter asking him to work as HGV driver
A BRAVE soldier killed 10 years ago was sent a letter from the Department for Transport asking him to work as a HGV driver.
The family of Lance Corporal Lee Foley branded Government transport chiefs as “cruel and insensitive” after receiving the letter.
Lee’s heartbroken father Paul, 60, said: “It is very upsetting – how can they make such a stupid mistake?
“I was shocked when I opened the letter – it brought it all back to me.
“But now I’m feeling angry and no apology is going to make that feeling go away.”
Royal Engineer Lee, 26, who had an HGV licence, was killed in a road accident while home on leave from Afghanistan in 2011.
The Department for Transport letter, dated September 29, was delivered to his former home in Merthyr Tydfil and the new owner passed it on to the soldier’s family.
Retired factory worker Paul said: “It was addressed to Lee and said there were opportunities for HGV drivers because of the national shortage.
“It went on to say that they looked forward to hearing from him.
“Well I’d like to hear from him too but that isn’t going to happen because he’s been gone for 10 years.
“It’s cruel and insensitive – someone should have checked before sending a letter to someone who died so many years ago. It has made me wonder what my son would have been doing now if he hadn’t have died so tragically.”
Lee died of head injuries after being hit by a taxi while out celebrating New Year’s
Eve 2011 with friends.
Grandfather Paul said other bereaved military families have also been left hurt and upset after receiving the letter headed: “HGV Driver Shortage Opportunities”.
He added: “They can apologise 1,000 times – it isn’t going to make any difference to how I’m feeling. I don’t want other families to go through this unnecessary upset.”
Paul has brought in Merthyr Tydfil MP Gerald Jones who is taking it up with the Department for Transport.
A spokesman for the UK Government said: “We apologise for any upset or confusion caused to veterans, their families, and the bereaved and state our gratitude for their sacrifice in service of this country.
“A letter was automatically sent to almost one million people with active lorry licences and, unfortunately, an administrative issue prevented us from narrowing the copy list.”