An Army squadron commander who claims he has been left super-sensitive to the cold because he was not issued with warm mittens on winter manoeuvres is now suing the Ministry of Defence for over £200,000.
Details of the Case
Darren Stoddart, a Tactical Commander in the Light Dragoons, suffered a 'mild non-freezing cold injury' and developed a sensation akin to 'thousands of tiny cuts' on his hands after prolonged exposure during a six-week training exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, between February and March 2022.
Mr Stoddart, from Hartlepool, was acting as a vehicle commander providing tactical training to his squadron when his hands became increasingly cold-chapped and numb while driving in an open vehicle. He is now suing the MoD, alleging that his superiors failed to provide him with warm mittens, leaving him with an incurable condition that has damaged his military career.
Legal Arguments
In documents lodged with London's High Court, his barrister, Thomas Banks, explained: 'The claimant spent the first stages of the exercise conducting tactical training with his squadron from his vehicle. The vehicles were open-architecture, meaning they had no cover from the elements. He became wet and cold, exacerbated by driving around in an open vehicle in wet clothing. His hands, in particular, got wet and cold.'
Towards the end of the exercise, his squadron conducted a simulated attack in torrential rain. He became soaking wet but had to drive immediately to a distant part of the training area at speed, exposed to wind-chill. His hands became cold and numb, and he lost all dexterity. When he eventually rewarmed them, they felt like they had thousands of tiny cuts, and the pain kept him awake at night.
Mr Stoddart says the weather was unusually cold and wet, yet no warning was issued about extra weather protection. He deployed with standard issue kit, including everyday gloves that were ineffective in cold weather. 'They soaked up water and provided little or no thermal protection. He was not issued with mittens, despite these being in use by the British Army at the material time,' said his barrister.
Impact on Career
After returning to normal duties, his symptoms never fully resolved, leaving him hypersensitive to heat and cold. His feet were also mildly affected. The cold injuries have delayed his promotion prospects due to medical downgrading, limiting his range of activities. Although he has achieved some recovery, he remains cold-sensitised and must avoid uncontrolled cold environments. 'There is no treatment and the condition is permanent, needing management by lifestyle choices,' his barrister added.
Mr Stoddart's barrister argued that superiors should have been alert to the risks of non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) due to established knowledge. He highlighted military documents, including the 2016 Joint Service Publication, which stressed the importance of risk assessment and appropriate clothing, stating that 'a spare pair of mittens should always be carried as cold and wet handwear contribute to cold injuries.'
The MoD's defence was not available at the time of writing.
