Head of the British Army apologises for soldier's death during exercise on Salisbury Plain
The Chief of the General Staff has apologised to the family of a soldier who was killed on exercise on Salisbury Plain.
Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, who was serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, had been driving a Scimitar-variant Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance armoured fighting vehicle, when the vehicle's gun barrel hit a tree.
The turret rotated quickly, and the rear storage bin attached to it struck Pte Watson-Pickering's head, causing fatal injuries.
The 23-year-old, who was participating in Exercise Iron Storm at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene on 15 October 2021.
General Sir Roly Walker 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."
He added: "Jethro should never have died. We failed him and those who loved him."
The Health and Safety Executive's investigation
The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) investigation found that there was no safe system of work for driving the CVR(T) Scimitar during the exercise.
The investigation said that risk assessments failed to identify the danger to the driver from the turret rotating without warning, meaning no control measures were put in place in case of an incident of this kind happened.
In addition, risk assessments were not properly reviewed following other incidents, and instruction and training were also "inadequate".
"Our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and friends of Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, who must live with his loss," 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 accidents like this one."
In light of the investigation, the HSE has issued the MOD with a Crown Censure.
A Crown Censure is the maximum sanction available to HSE against a Crown body. It acts as an official reprimand and provides a lasting, public record of a Crown body's failure to comply with the law.
Gen Sir Roly has said that the Army had made "significant changes" to stop another incident like this occurring 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," the head of the British Army 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."
The world was his oyster, soldier's mother says
Pte Watson-Pickering's mother, Moira Watson-Pickering, said that her son "loved life" and life loved him back.
"The date of October 15 2021 will be forever sketched in our minds," she said in a statement.
"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 the 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, said: "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."
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