DNA test for baby of dead marine

Major Jason Ward died in a helicopter crash in March

DNA has been taken from a three-and-a-half month old baby to prove he is the son of a Devon marine who died at the start of the war in Iraq.

The boy was born in Oslo to the Norwegian girlfriend of 34-year-old Royal Marine Major Jason Ward.

Major Ward died in March at the start of hostilities.

The test was done in an attempt to establish whether the infant is entitled to collect a Ministry of Defence child's pension of up to £4,000 a year.

The baby's mother, 31-year-old hospital nurse May Helen Forsberg, found she was pregnant just before Major Ward, who was living in Exeter, was sent to Iraq.

Although they had split up because of the demands of his job, they had remained good friends.

The officer was among eight Royal Marines from Plymouth Based 3 Commando, and and four US servicemen, who died when their Sea Knight helicopter crashed on the Kuwaiti border.

Minor operation

Ms Forsberg, who now lives in Oslo, said: "I do not mind the DNA test, but they should have asked for it a long time ago if that is what they wanted."

The DNA test was carried out in the city on Wednesday when the baby went into hospital for a minor operation.

"It is very frustrating, and stressful. I cannot make any plans," she said.

"I am not very impressed by the Ministry of Defence if this is the way they treat children who lost their parents in the war fighting for their country."

The Ministry of Defence said it could not comment on specific cases, but it had to be satisfied of the parenthood when such a substantial sum of money was involved over a period of up to 16 years.