INSULT TO HEROES

ANGRY families of the six Red Caps murdered in Iraq lashed out last night at plans to use a picture of the dead men in an Army recruitment campaign.

The group snap includes three of the slaughtered soldiers on patrol in the flashpoint Iraqi province of Maysan just before they died. An advertising agency - employed by the Army - asked to use the picture for a series of ads in men's magazines.

The photo ad firm Publicis inquired about belongs to one of the dead soldier's families. It shows Corporal Russell Aston, 30, Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, and Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewel, 41, who were visiting Iraqi police in lawless Majar al-Kabir in June 2003 when they were surrounded by a mob and riddled with bullets.

Last night Simon's brother Tony, 47, said: "I think it is an insult to the memory of my brother. It is disgusting and grossly insensitive to our feelings.

"What are you trying to say by showing images of soldiers who have died? Join up and you could end up dead?"

Mike Aston, 62, from South Derbyshire, said: "I would take great exception to someone using a photo of my son in an advertising campaign - particularly as no one has asked my permission."

Tom's dad Reg, 53, who stood against Tony Blair on an anti-war ticket in the last general election, said: "I am extremely angry. My son is not to be used in an advert or as some kind of exhibit."

Last night a senior Army source said: "This kind of blunder really beggars belief. It's the kind of action that gives the Army an appalling name."

It is not yet clear how the picture would be used - but the ad firm will probably NOT mention the fact that the patrol had grenades and morphine taken from them before their mission and were also left short of ammunition.

Last night Publicis said they could not comment on the campaign.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We will investigate this particular issue and ensure that any inappropriate images are removed.

"The Army would never knowingly use the image of a deceased soldier."

WHAT THEY SHOULD SAY IN ADJoin the Army.. we'll abandon you in a perilous position with no grenades or morphine AND we'll leave you short of ammo

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