SAS bosses forced to ‘beg’ government for money to treat war heroes wounded in secret battles in Iraq and Afghanistan
Military chiefs made to appeal for cash to build rehabilitation centre after Ministry of Defence claimed request was not priority, despite high casualty rate
SAS chiefs have had to beg millions from charity to patch up their wounded heroes, The Sun can reveal.
It has the emerged that the elite regiment has gone cap in hand for handout money to build a rehabilitation centre at its HQ in Hereford.
And its Navy sister service the SBS has had to do the same at its home in Poole, after the two units saw dozens of frontline troopers injured in secret battles in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 15 years.
The Sun has discovered the Special Forces units were awarded a total of £5.2million in the last year in grants from Libor fines on sinning bankers for the care wings.
The applications for grants came after the MoD refused to designate either as priorities, despite the devastating effect the high casualty rates were having.
The two special forces units has also been given a total of £2.9m between them in grants since 2015 to care for their long suffering families while troopers are away on dangerous tours of duty.
Of that, £1.9 million went towards new buildings for pre-school age children of SAS personnel in Hereford, and £1m helped build an SBS families centre in Poole.
Their money was quietly authorised in July by then Chancellor George Osborne in his last full day before being sacked by new PM Theresa May.
So far, more than £600m in fines levied on banks for financial scandal has been handed out to military and emergency service charities.
Instead of ploughing the fines back into state coffers, Mr Osborne decided in 2012 to give them to Britain’s needy heroes instead.
But the pot is now almost empty.
An MOD spokesman said: “It is only right that military charities and organisations continue to be supported by the proceeds of Libor fines.
“This government has introduced a range of measures to improve the welfare of the armed forces family and the care of current and former personnel remains a priority for Defence with a wide range of funding available.”
A Treasury spokeswoman said: “We know this money makes a massive difference to many people across the UK, and it is fitting that LIBOR fines are used to support those who demonstrate the very best of values.”
The Treasury added: “Members of SAS can be deployed on long missions abroad and those with young children can be reassured they are being educated and cared for in a new dedicated environment”.