The MoD should have dealt with the psychological problems in a more effective manner

Solicitor John Mackenzie

Altogether 1,700 former servicemen are taking part in the action against the MoD.

The judge, Mr Justice Owen, is being asked to award damages to 260 former servicemen who say they have been emotionally scarred and even left unable to work by the condition, known as post traumatic stress syndrome.

The claimants include many veterans of the Falklands conflict which began 20 years ago next month.

They claim their condition was not diagnosed or treated in service, and that they were never warned about the possible effects at the time of their enlistment or discharge from the forces.

Many lost their lives on the Sir Galahad

They complain the MoD gave no adequate information or debriefings to prepare them for the possible effects of the trauma of war.

John Mackenzie, a solicitor representing some of the veterans, said: "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome has affected the veterans mentally and emotionally."

"The MoD should have dealt with the psychological problems in a more effective manner."

Psychiatric clinics

Latest available figures show 264 Falklands veterans have committed suicide since the conflict, compared with the 255 who died during the campaign itself.

There is also a waiting list for treatment at specialist psychiatric clinics.

David Grimshaw has suffered psychologically

The MoD says it acknowledges some members of the armed forces suffer trauma and insists it has adequate procedures for dealing with the problem.

Many of the Welsh former servicemen taking part in the action served in the Falklands conflict.

They include 39-year-old David Grimshaw from Llandudno, north Wales, who was 19 and a promising young Welsh Guardsman.

But his military career was ended abruptly when his left leg was blown off in an attack by Argentinian fighter planes on the landing ship, Sir Galahad.

He said he suffers many flashbacks to the conflict after returning home.

"Living on Anglesey near RAF Valley, as I was at the time, it was the aircraft that was bothering me more than anything.

"Every time an aircraft would come over I would be back sitting on that ship.

"All the emotions would flood through you."

Denzil Connick, a former paratrooper in the Falklands who runs the service support group the South Atlantic Medal Association from offices in Blackwood, south Wales, is a witness in the case.