John Miller claims his 21-year-old son Simon's life could have been saved by a satellite phone that costs the same amount as the average payout to civil servants.

Official MoD figures showed almost £300m has been dished out in rewards for performance since the start of the Iraq war in 2003, including more than £47m this year.

Mr Miller, whose South Shields-born son was among six Redcaps killed in Iraq in June 2003, said he was "absolutely disgusted" by the bonuses, which were revealed as the Government faces criticism for ill-equipping troops in Afghanistan.

He said: "I think it is an absolute disgrace and it beggars belief. A £1,000 phone would have saved my son's life."

An inquest into the deaths of Corporal Miller and his comrades, including Cpl Paul Long, 24, of South Shields, heard how they did not have enough ammunition to protect themselves, and the radios they were given did not have a long enough range to call for help.

They died at the hands of a 400-strong Iraqi mob at a police station in Al Majar Al-Kabir.

Lack of equipment also played a part in the death of another South Shields soldier, Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott, 34, in Iraq.

An inquest heard that her boat was not fitted with a device which would have detected a bomb that exploded as it passed under a bridge three years ago yesterday.

The MoD said this year's bonuses – going to around 50,000 staff – would average less than £1,000, but some senior officials may receive as much as £8,000, according to reports.

The figures emerged in a written reply from Defence Minister Kevan Jones to Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox.

An MoD spokesman said: "These pay awards are met from within salary budget and have no impact on the operational or equipment budget."