WITH reference to Mike Bentley's article, "Officially fair game", (The Press, April 6), given that he has chosen to criticise the 15 seized sailors, I ask Mr Bentley to forgo his modesty and inform us about the wars he has fought in.

Or is he, like W H Auden, a paid-up member of the white-feather society, i.e. able to be brave and critical of others from the safety of his armchair, where the most risk he runs is from repetitive strain injury due to overuse of his remote?

I have served in three conflicts, or arguably two as the second was a continuance of the initial active service. I served with the Army Air Corps from 63-65 without UK leave in southern Yemen, where we fought the Red Wolves in the Radfan territory.

Hence I became interested in Islam and gained a respect for their fighting prowess.

This was compounded when I was sent back with my regiment for the withdrawal from Aden. My final deployment was to Ebrington barracks in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 1972.

Advise us, Mr Bentley, about your military experience, that qualifies you to denigrate these naval personnel?

T Cullen, Vernon Close, Bishopthorpe, York.