Forever airborne: Teenage Para recruit's ashes scattered mid-air by veteran
The ashes of a Parachute Regiment recruit who died at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick have been scattered mid-air by a veteran of the unit he was hoping to join.
Harry Johnson, 19, was just 14 weeks into his Army career when he collapsed and died following a PT session in July.
The ceremony took place over an airfield in Durham, with the late recruit's family and friends watching on, as well as veterans and representatives from the Army.
BFBS Forces News spoke to Mark Robson, a former member of 1 Para, who organised and carried out the activity. He said Harry's parents were keen for their son to be remembered in this way.
"Giving Harry his wings, whilst that's appropriate for him wanting to be a paratrooper, I think, coupled with the large gathering we saw today, made it all the more special," Mr Robson said.
The event saw Mr Robson parachute from an aircraft at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. Descending to the ground with a Para Regimental flag upflung, he released Harry's ashes mid-air – which, he later remarked, made the late recruit "forever airborne".
Mr Robson, who began scattering the ashes of Army veterans in this way during the Covid-19 pandemic, said carrying out the task is "always emotional".
"We get emotional in the aircraft when we're climbing to altitude. We do the exultation between ourselves via our helmet comms, and we're getting emotional prior to even exiting.
"Then, obviously, landing and speaking with Harry's mum is always emotional. We've built up a good relationship despite the circumstances. I'm always right on the edge of breaking down," Mr Robson said.
The Parachute Regiment Association encouraged its members to attend and sent along Shetland pony Pegasus – the regimental mascot – out of respect to the young soldier. Veterans saluted while the Last Post played, as Mr Robson released Harry's ashes.
Major Tony McGrane, the officer commanding Parachute Regiment Training Company, attended the event representing the unit Harry belonged to when he died. He said Harry's death was a tragedy "mourned throughout the entire Parachute Regimental family".
He added: "He was a young man who had the airborne forces spirit through him and had the potential of becoming a first-class paratrooper, so we hope his family and friends can find solace in the scattering of his ashes under canopy, in keeping with that airborne spirit that Harry so clearly loved."
A full inquest into the death of Private Harry Johnson will take place in due course.
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