Army chief apologises to family of Teesside soldier killed in Salisbury Plain training exercise
The Ministry of Defence has been issued with a Crown Censure over the death
Last updated 2 hours ago
The head of the Army has apologised to the family of a soldier from Teesside who was killed during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.
Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, 23, died from head injuries after the incident in October 2021.
He was driving a Scimitar armoured vehicle during the exercise.
The gun barrel, which protruded beyond the side of the vehicle, struck a tree.
On impact, the turret rotated very quickly and the rear storage bin attached to it struck the soldier, causing fatal injuries.
He served with the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment and his death was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has now issued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a Crown Censure of the incident.
General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with Jethro Watson-Pickering’s family and friends.
“I am deeply sorry for their loss and for the Army’s failings that contributed to his death.
“We fully accept the Health and Safety Executive’s Crown Censure findings.
“We failed to properly assess and control the risks, failed in our training and instruction, and failed to provide a safe vehicle.
“Jethro should never have died. We failed him and those who loved him.”
HSE inspectors concluded the MoD had not met its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
They found inadequacies with the risk assessment, instructions and training for the exercise.
Following the investigation, a file was passed to the HSE's lawyers, who concluded there was sufficient evidence to pursue a Crown Censure.
A Crown Censure is the maximum sanction available to the HSE against a Crown body.
By accepting it, the MoD has admitted breaching its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
HSE inspector Emma O’Hara said: “Just like any other employer, the MoD has a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to control the risks to the safety of its employees.
“In this case, it failed to do so, which has cost a young man his life.
“While realistic exercises are an essential component of military training, this does not mean employees should face uncontrolled or inadequately controlled risks.
“Training exercises must be properly planned, with risks identified and mitigated, to prevent future tragic incidents like this one.”
In a statement, the soldier’s mother, Moira Watson-Pickering, said: “He loved life and I truly believe life loved him. The date of October 15 2021 will be forever sketched in our minds.
“I am grateful for the work undertaken by the HSE in investigating and pleased that the Army has accepted the HSE’s findings, in relation to its failings, in full.
“I would also like to thank the Chief of General Staff, General Sir Roland Walker, for his kind words at the Crown Censure proceedings.
“I hope that lessons are learned and that no family has to suffer as we have.
“Jethro loved the Army and saw life as a gift. The world was his oyster and Jethro grabbed it with both hands.
“We will be forever proud of him and miss him forever, but I know that we will see him again.”
Sir Roly said the Army had made “significant changes” to prevent another similar incident happening again.
“But no change can undo what happened. Our responsibility is to make sure the lessons endure in how we train, lead and look after our people every day,” he said.
“I offer my sincere condolences to Jethro’s family and friends. I know words cannot lessen their loss, but the Army remembers Jethro, accepts where we failed him, and will not forget the lessons of his death.”
In a statement, the soldier’s mother, Moira Watson-Pickering, said: “He loved life and I truly believe life loved him. The date of October 15 2021 will be forever sketched in our minds.
“I am grateful for the work undertaken by the HSE in investigating and pleased that the Army has accepted the HSE’s findings, in relation to its failings, in full.
“I would also like to thank the Chief of General Staff, General Sir Roland Walker, for his kind words at the Crown Censure proceedings.
“I hope that lessons are learned and that no family has to suffer as we have.
“Jethro loved the Army and saw life as a gift. The world was his oyster and Jethro grabbed it with both hands.
“We will be forever proud of him and miss him forever, but I know that we will see him again.”
Clare Stevens, the family’s lawyer, added: “It is difficult to hear opportunities were missed that could have prevented this tragedy.
“This investigation identified serious deficiencies in the Army’s assessment of and management of risks.
“Failure to learn lessons of the past raises troubling questions.
“The pattern of failing to learn lessons must change to prevent another tragedy.”