AN army veteran is set to go to back into battle to win the war pension which he believes he is entitled to.

Mr David Pollard (46), of Church Street West, Radcliffe, served as a physical training instructor in the Army between 1970 and 1976.

He was discharged on medical grounds and accepted a one-off lump sum payment of around £1,000 instead of a pension.

But now he claims he was in no fit state to make such a decision because of the brain damage he says he has suffered.

"In September 1972 I was shot in the face with a rubber bullet during a training exercise in Germany.

"It knocked me out and I was in hospital for two days, but I believe it has affected my temporal lobes and caused brain damage," he said.

"Before the shooting I was a very good climber, but afterwards I kept having accidents and began to shoot off-target.

"I think further damage was done when an officer accidentally dropped a rock on my head in Canada."

Mr Pollard, who is married with two teenage children, is determined to win a war pension backdated 24 years and will attend a tribunal on March 27.

"I have already been through five unsuccessful tribunals where I was not given the opportunity to properly speak up for myself and give the true facts.

"Last year the pensions appeal tribunal awarded me a lump sum of £1,844 because they said I had between 0 and 5 per cent disabilities from my Army injuries, but I want a proper pension."