The most senior British clergyman in Iraq has criticised the lack of support for British troops and has called for the Church and Government to do more to promote public backing for their role in the conflict.

Vicar of Baghdad Canon Andrew White called for World War II-style letter-writing campaigns and moral campaigns to raise morale of the men and women risking their lives on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan in service of their country.

His plea, backed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey and the Bishop to the Forces David Connor, Dean of Windsor, echoes a similar call made by Bishop Tom Burns, Roman Catholic chaplain to the forces.

Canon White compared the paltry support given to British troops in Basra to that shown by the American public for their forces in Baghdad.

Speaking to The Times in London on the eve of being awarded the the “Pursuer of Peace” award by the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, Canon White admitted mistakes had been made in Iraq but said the former regime of Saddam Hussein could not have been removed by the Iraqi people acting alone.

“What really concerns me is that the British do not support their military in the same way as the Americans do,” he said. “If you go round the American embassy in Baghdad it is full of letters and pictures written and sent by children to American soldiers.

“Among the British troops there is nothing. Apart from Armistice Day, when do we ever hear of the British supporting their military? I would like schools to do letter-writing campaigns. I would like people to be made more aware of how many troops we have serving in Iraq.

“These men and women are offering their lives for the sake of their nation. Yet we are terrible at supporting them. Our troops are fantastic. They are very professional. They are excellent people. We should be doing everything to support them, and yet we are doing nothing.”

Privately, many clergy working with the Services believe the constant criticism of the war by Church leaders such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has undermined support for the troops.

Canon White, who is flown to the US regularly for private meetings with President George Bush about the situation on the ground in Iraq, was backed by Lord Carey, who is patron of Canon White’s Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.

Lord Carey said care would have to be taken not to identify forces personnel in a way that would endanger them, but urged schools and others to explore how they could send letters and other messages of support. He said: “I think our troops are doing a fantastic job and deserve our full support. They are all heroes and as Andrew White knows more than most they are working in difficult and dangerous situations.”

Bishop Connor also backed Canon White. He said: “At the present time, we are asking a huge amount of the men and women in our Armed Services, and of their families. It is vitally important that we all realize that we have real responsibility to support and care for them. They deserve our gratitude, recognition and respect.”