From STANLEY A. SIEV
Sir, - Further to the correspondence relative to the hearing claims brought by soldiers against the State, I have been instructed by a client to write to you and to state that he was a soldier with the Eighth Army, which fought in North Africa.
After the major battles of North Africa, they landed in Sicily and crossed the straits to the Italian mainland and drove slowly up along the Adriatic coast road.
When they reached Monte-Casino, this became a major stumbling block in the battle and the Allies brought over 400 guns to the scene and commenced a tremendous bombardment. Not merely were there 400 guns firing, but hundreds of Flying Fortresses dropping bombs also added intensity to the noise, yet my client has instructed me to state that he did not suffer from any deafness whatsoever.
He has also stated that parts of England were bombed night after night and the noise must have been tremendous in the cities as buildings crashed, as bombs were dropped, as planes roared overhead. He has instructed me to state that up to this date, he has not heard of anyone in England bringing any claim for loss of hearing.
I would be glad to hear of any response hereto. Thank you on behalf of my client. - Yours, etc.,
George's Chambers, 31 Aungier Street, Dublin 2.