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Review call over soldier deaths | Review call over soldier deaths |
(10 minutes later) | |
A top-level government review into battlefield procedures is needed, a coroner said at an inquest into the friendly-fire deaths of three soldiers. | A top-level government review into battlefield procedures is needed, a coroner said at an inquest into the friendly-fire deaths of three soldiers. |
Pte Aaron McClure, from Suffolk, Pte Robert Foster and Pte John Thrumble, both from Essex, died in August 2007. | Pte Aaron McClure, from Suffolk, Pte Robert Foster and Pte John Thrumble, both from Essex, died in August 2007. |
A US F15 plane bombed them instead of a Taliban position in Afghanistan. | A US F15 plane bombed them instead of a Taliban position in Afghanistan. |
Recording a narrative verdict, coroner David Masters said the review was needed to "ensure tragedy like this never happens again". | Recording a narrative verdict, coroner David Masters said the review was needed to "ensure tragedy like this never happens again". |
Mr Masters told the inquest in Trowbridge he would be making recommendations to the government calling for a review. | Mr Masters told the inquest in Trowbridge he would be making recommendations to the government calling for a review. |
'Flawed application' | 'Flawed application' |
The inquest previously heard that grid co-ordinates communicated between an air controller and an American weapons officer "did not marry up" before the 500lb bomb was dropped on the men. | The inquest previously heard that grid co-ordinates communicated between an air controller and an American weapons officer "did not marry up" before the 500lb bomb was dropped on the men. |
On Monday Mr Masters said an Army panel had found the deaths were not down to "recklessness". | On Monday Mr Masters said an Army panel had found the deaths were not down to "recklessness". |
The men were members of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment | |
Instead the panel found it was down to the "flawed application of procedures" he said. | Instead the panel found it was down to the "flawed application of procedures" he said. |
The panel made 39 recommendations, 26 of which have already been implemented, the court was told. | The panel made 39 recommendations, 26 of which have already been implemented, the court was told. |
The bodies of Pte McClure, 19, and Pte Thrumble, 21, who were killed instantly in the blast, were retrieved under mortar fire. | The bodies of Pte McClure, 19, and Pte Thrumble, 21, who were killed instantly in the blast, were retrieved under mortar fire. |
After returning to base, it was discovered that Pte Foster was unaccounted for. | After returning to base, it was discovered that Pte Foster was unaccounted for. |
A search party later dug the 19-year-old's body from rubble using their bare hands. | A search party later dug the 19-year-old's body from rubble using their bare hands. |
Post-mortem tests showed Pte Foster died of asphyxia caused by entrapment following an explosion. | Post-mortem tests showed Pte Foster died of asphyxia caused by entrapment following an explosion. |
Mr Masters said he would want there to be a review of existing "second man" procedures when checking grid references. | Mr Masters said he would want there to be a review of existing "second man" procedures when checking grid references. |
'Pride in sons' | 'Pride in sons' |
He said this would be with "particular reference to the monitoring and checking of potential misidentification of targets and friendly forces". | He said this would be with "particular reference to the monitoring and checking of potential misidentification of targets and friendly forces". |
Mr Masters said he would recommend an urgent review of the use of GPS tracking devices, as Pte Foster's body might have been found sooner if he had been carrying one. | Mr Masters said he would recommend an urgent review of the use of GPS tracking devices, as Pte Foster's body might have been found sooner if he had been carrying one. |
Throughout the inquest the mothers of the soldiers, who were all members of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, sat with framed pictures of their sons in front of them. | Throughout the inquest the mothers of the soldiers, who were all members of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, sat with framed pictures of their sons in front of them. |
A statement following the inquest said: "Today sees the end of a heartbreaking journey that began for us all on 23 August 2007 when we heard that we had lost our darling sons, John Thrumble, Aaron McClure and Robert Foster. | A statement following the inquest said: "Today sees the end of a heartbreaking journey that began for us all on 23 August 2007 when we heard that we had lost our darling sons, John Thrumble, Aaron McClure and Robert Foster. |
"It goes without saying that our love and thanks go to our families and friends for always being there for us. | "It goes without saying that our love and thanks go to our families and friends for always being there for us. |
"Finally, although this is end of the inquest, there will never be closure or a return to the way things were for us as families... our pride in our sons knows no bounds." | "Finally, although this is end of the inquest, there will never be closure or a return to the way things were for us as families... our pride in our sons knows no bounds." |