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Review call over soldier deaths Review call over soldier deaths
(about 2 hours 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.
The men were members of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
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".
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.
Greg Wood, BBC News, at Wiltshire Coroner's Court The inquest into the deaths of the three soldiers from so-called "friendly fire" focused on the actions of Sergeant Mark Perren of the Royal Artillery.Greg Wood, BBC News, at Wiltshire Coroner's Court The inquest into the deaths of the three soldiers from so-called "friendly fire" focused on the actions of Sergeant Mark Perren of the Royal Artillery.
He was the forward air controller on the ground with the Royal Anglian Regiment foot patrol when it came under fire. It was his job to call in the air strike by giving co-ordinates over the radio to a US F15 jet.He was the forward air controller on the ground with the Royal Anglian Regiment foot patrol when it came under fire. It was his job to call in the air strike by giving co-ordinates over the radio to a US F15 jet.
But the coroner's inquest heard that he did not have noise cancelling headsets for his radio, even though he had asked for them, only a handset.But the coroner's inquest heard that he did not have noise cancelling headsets for his radio, even though he had asked for them, only a handset.
In the confusion and stress of battle Sgt Perren misheard the grid reference repeated back to him by the US aircrew. It was a thousand metres out and so the 500 pound bomb dropped on the British position by mistake.In the confusion and stress of battle Sgt Perren misheard the grid reference repeated back to him by the US aircrew. It was a thousand metres out and so the 500 pound bomb dropped on the British position by mistake.
The inquest heard that Sgt Perren was in severe distress after he realised what had happened and threw his helmet to the ground. He recognised that it was his mistake, the corner said.The inquest heard that Sgt Perren was in severe distress after he realised what had happened and threw his helmet to the ground. He recognised that it was his mistake, the corner said.
Since the incident in August 2007 all the British army's forward air controllers in Afghanistan have been issued with noise cancelling headsets. But too late to save three young lives.Since the incident in August 2007 all the British army's forward air controllers in Afghanistan have been issued with noise cancelling headsets. But too late to save three young lives.
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.
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."