THE mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan is locked in a battle with the Ministry of Defence over compensation.

Lee Mackie, of Moonraker Lane, Bampton, is appealing against the MoD’s decision not to give her annual dependency payments after her Royal Marine son Jason Mackie was killed in action.

Marine Mackie, 21, of 3rd Armoured Support Group Royal Marines, died instantly when his vehicle struck an explosive device in May.

Divorced Ms Mackie has been awarded a £60,000 survivor’s pension, but believes she should also be entitled to a separate dependant’s pension, which is strictly for spouses and children.

Former Burford Community College student Marine Mackie, who was engaged to Victoria Baynes, did not have any children.

But his South African-born mother wants the MoD to honour her culture where she said children financially support their parents in later life.

She said: “They should recognise there are different types of dependencies. The MoD does not recognise parental dependency.”

Ms Mackie, 54, and her three sons – Richard, 26, Alastair, 24, and Marine Mackie – moved to Bampton from their home in Zimbabwe in 2002 after her former husband Philip’s farm was seized by Robert Mugabe’s government.

She has since racked up thousands of pounds of debts, which she said her son was planning to help her with.

She said: “I gave up my life, we came over here to support my children as we could no longer afford to educate them back in Africa.

“I spent the next five years getting myself into debt and looking after Jason. The MoD doesn’t recognise the fact I was going to be dependant on him.

“I have studied and have not worked long enough in this country to get a proper pension.”

MoD spokesman Alastair McCrea-Steele said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Marine Jason Mackie.

“Under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005, a lump sum worth four times a service person’s salary is payable upon their death to anyone they nominate, or if there is no nomination, to their estate.

“A separate pension is payable to dependants only.”

Ms Mackie will also receive an insurance pay-off of £150,000.

She said: “My child gives his life up for £150,000 – I think the whole thing is very unfair. It may seem like a lot of money, but it has to last me the rest of my life.”

The teacher, who works at Swindon College, said: “I am very aware that, if I was in trouble, my other sons would help me, but it doesn’t sit well with me as they were independent.”