A SOLDIER'S memoirs which clear the name of Swindon Gulf War hero Vince Phillips have been blocked by the Ministry of Defence.

The book would have been the third written by survivors of Bravo Two Zero an eight-man SAS mission which dropped behind Iraqi lines in January 1991.

Three men died on the patrol, including Vince Phillips, from Walcot, who was then 36.

The books Bravo Two Zero, by Andy McNab, and The One that Got Away, by Chris Ryan, both cast aspersions on the reputation of Sergeant Phillips.

Chris Ryan particularly depicted Sgt Phillips as indecisive and cowardly and blamed him for the failure of the patrol.

The new account by New Zealander Mike Coburn (not his real name) tells a different story.

He says McNab and Ryan exaggerated their exploits and his book is understood to vindicate Vince Phillips.

Coburn lays blame for the failure of the mission firmly at the foot of the army bosses who ordered Bravo Two Zero in and then failed to get them out again.

But his version of events may never be told after a Ministry of Defence gagging order was upheld by the Privy Council.

Four law lords ruled that Coburn was bound by a confidentiality agreement he signed when he left the SAS, although a fifth judge, Lord Scott, dissented from the findings.

The Swindon-based family of Vince Phillips say they are appalled by the judgment.

They claim the Ministry of Defence is mounting a cover-up to protect the reputation of British Gulf War commander General Sir Peter de la Billiere.

Vince Phillips' brother Jeff, 45, said: "It is typical of the MoD they are covering up.

"Sir Peter de la Billiere didn't want a red face and they have used Vince as a scapegoat.

"I think it is just to save Sir Peter de la Billiere's face. He sent four patrols of SAS in three of those patrols got dropped in and came straight back.

"But they left Bravo Two Zero out there to save his face."

In January this year Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon met the Phillips family and for the first time admitted that Vince was not to blame for the failure of the mission.

Of the eight patrol members on Bravo Two Zero, two died of hypothermia, one of whom was Vince Phillips, another was shot, four were captured and one man escaped.

The mission ran into problems after encountering heavy Iraqi opposition and was forced to attempt to fight despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "He can still publish his book but he will have to ensure it does not include any damaging material in terms of operations, tactics and training.

"We don't want to give away details of how special forces operate.

"Generally it is not MoD policy to comment on Special Forces operations. However we can assure you that this isn't a cover up."