Fiji-born veteran's immigration battle after leaving British army

Taitusi Ratucaucau has been barred from working and could face 50,000 bill for brain op

• Commonwealth veterans launch legal action

In 2011, after more than 10 years of service, Taitusi Ratucaucau was given 28 days' notice that he was no longer required by the British army. The Fiji-born veteran, who served in Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2008-09, says he tried to tell his commanding officers that he wasn't ready for life outside the armed forces.

He pleaded to the point of tears, he recalls. If you sign a contract for 22 years, you expect to serve it. I had a very good record in my regiment, I was not prepared to come out. I said I wanted to stay but they told me no, crack on'."