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Disabled mum goes on hunger strike as benefits cut after soldier son’s death
“I’ve lost everything”: Disabled mum goes on hunger strike as benefits cut after soldier son’s death
The mother of the youngest British soldier to die in Afghanistan will go on hunger strike in protest at the Government.
Disabled Lucy Aldridge lost £300 a week in benefits after son William, 18, died in a blast in 2009, leaving her £218,000 in insurance and death-in-service payouts.
The single mum says she is prepared to die to get David Cameron to change rules which prevent her carrying out her son’s final wishes.
Lucy, 44, will stop taking food on Monday and is sending her sons George, nine, and Archie, seven, to stay with close relatives.
Her eldest son William died seven weeks after his 18th birthday while serving with The 2nd Battalion, The Rifles in July 2009.
His troop was hit by two roadside bombs in a “daisy chain” Taliban attack in Helmand province. In all, five Riflemen died in the attack.
Brave William, who left behind girlfriend Zeta Prince, spent his last moments helping the injured and comforting badly-wounded commanding officer Major Alistair Field.
After William died around £218,000 was paid into his estate from death-in-service and insurance pay-outs.
