A crippled war veteran is being ordered by top brass to clear out of Army digs just days before Christmas.

Former Private Chris Lazzara has been told to pack his bags – and slapped with a court summons for December 16.

Refusal could see Mr Lazzara, his wife and baby son turfed out of their house in Howe Barracks and left homeless over the festive period.

Mr Lazzara, who served his country in Afghanistan, said: “I feel like the Army has declared war on me.

“I feel really let down. I just can’t believe the timing of this. All we need is time to stay in the property while we acquire other accommodation.

“We’ve nowhere to go so I don’t know what we’re expected to do? I’m now trying to sort emergency accommodation through the council but we’ve no guarantees at all.”

Canterbury’s Howe Barracks site will eventually be bulldozed, but while most properties sit empty, some occupants are still in place.

Mr Lazzara, 32, is confined to a wheelchair following injuries he says he sustained during an Army exercise.

He says Army bosses are refusing compensation, claiming his injuries are the result of an earlier condition, and have launched eviction proceedings.

Having served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Mr Lazzara was discharged on medical grounds in July this year.

Discharged soldiers have 93 days in which to vacate Army premises – but can apply for an extension.

Mr Lazzara claims he received no ‘notice to vacate’ and was therefore unable to make the application.

When he finally requested the notice be resent, it arrived this month and stated his time in the property had already expired, he says.

He now believes his former employers are singling his family out for eviction from the Albuhera Square house due to the dispute over his injuries.

He said: “It really upsets me. I’ve had to fight so much to get treatment. We haven’t meant to cause waves but it was the only way to get listened to.

“Now it feels like they’re singling us out for eviction. There’s other people on medical discharge still here.

“The worst thing is I know I’m not the only person going through this. There’s a lot of guys like me who were injured in service. It almost feels like I’m of no use to them so I’m just forgotten about.”

Mr Lazzara claims he was injured on a training course in 2011 and Army doctors failed to treat him properly.

His injuries led to a crippling condition which ultimately left him wheelchair-bound and independent medical experts support this, he says.

But Army medics have claimed instead that Mr Lazzara’s condition is a historic one dating back to his boyhood and is not related to his military service.

“I feel like the Army has declared war on me" - Chris Lazzara

Mr Lazzara says until compensation is settled he will have to seek housing help from the council.

Army spokesman Chris Fletcher said he was unable to comment on Mr Lazzara’s individual case.

“We are committed to looking after those that have served their country and so, in certain circumstances, we do allow individuals who have left the Armed Forces to stay on in their Service home for a set period of time while they seek an alternative,” he said.

“We provide advice to individuals throughout the time they are approaching the end of their service in order to help them access the right support to find appropriate accommodation.”

A Go Fund Me page has now been set up to raise money for Mr Lazzara.

To donate to the fund, click here.