An Army veteran who says she was "forced out" of the military for being gay is seeking an amendment to the government's financial redress scheme.

Louise Lingard-Snape, 58, served for 15 years as a musician and is among a group of veterans denied fixed reparation payments because they did not meet eligibility criteria.

Lingard-Snape, who left the Army in 1999, is calling on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to include those who were constructively dismissed in the scheme.

The MOD said it regretted the treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000 and remained committed to ensuring veterans' concerns were heard and addressed.

Lingard-Snape, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said she had been a musician since the age of six and wanted to join the armed forces from the age of 13.

"To join the Army as a musician was an ultimate dream," she said.

After competing with about 500 other women, she said she gained a place in the only all-female military band in the world at the time.

"Certainly from my senior managers and those officers set above me I wasn't accepted," she said.

"Even though I was promised a fantastic career, they were determined to deny me that really - not through any particular actions, but the bullying directly was the most harmful and the thing that you carry forward with you throughout life."

The decriminalisation of homosexuality began in the UK in 1967, but a law impacting LGBT military personnel lasted until the year 2000.

Lingard-Snape said her treatment had shaped her mental health and the impact of her experience "will never leave" her.

"It became a very lonely kind of place to exist," she said.

"I had to serve my year's notice, which was the most traumatic year of my life."

She joined others impacted by the so-called "gay ban" on Wednesday at Whitehall in London in an "emotionally charged" meeting with Veterans Minister Calvin Bailey.

Among the ex-service personnel who met the minister were men and women who were constructively dismissed and so far denied fixed payments.

Others said they had been denied access to the full reparations as they were sacked either just before or just after the formal historic policy dates of 1967–2000.

Since the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme launched in 2024, affected veterans have been able to apply for payments between £1,000 and £70,000 depending on their circumstances. Claims must be submitted before 12 December.

While other victims who were sacked were eligible for a flat-rate payment of £50,000, Lingard-Snape said she was not because she was "forced" to leave.

Peter Gibson, chief executive officer of the Fighting With Pride charity, said: "The minister heard deeply personal and moving testimony from every veteran.

"We left him with the very clear message that urgent action must be taken to deliver on the independent judge Lord Etherton's wishes that no-one who was mistreated under the horrific gay ban should be left behind."

An MOD spokesperson said: "We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000 which was wholly unacceptable and is not representative of defence today and remain committed to ensuring their voices are heard and, where appropriate, addressed.

"The Minister for Veterans and People recently met with Fighting with Pride and LGBT veterans to understand their experiences of Financial Recognition Scheme."

The MOD said those were not formally dismissed or discharged may still be eligible for an impact payment of up to £20,000, with applications assessed on their individual circumstances.

"We encourage them to apply before the scheme closes on 12 December," they added.

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