Three soldiers have been bailed by a court

[Bob Bacon]

Four serving soldiers are being questioned over the death of a 22-year-old serviceman while on exercise in Wiltshire. The soldier collapsed and died after exercises at around noon on Monday.

A 44-year-old, a 33-year-old, a 31-year-old and a 28-year-old, all serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Welsh regiment based at Tidworth were arrested by Wiltshire Police on suspicion on manslaughter.

The four were being questioned at Salisbury police station. A post-mortem examination will be carried out, police said. "As inquiries are at an early stage, no further details are available at this time," a Wiltshire Police spokesman said. It is understood that Wiltshire Police, not the Royal Military Police, took the lead in the investigation because the soldier died in a civilian area, thought to be a hospital.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh recruits from the whole of Wales and has a history of more than 300 years. The 600-strong battalion, based at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, is described on its website as "the Welsh Armoured punch" and "at the forefront of Britain's response to world events".

[Bob Bacon]

Royal Welsh soldier was 'beasted' by NCOs before dying

by Murdo Maguire — last modified 05-07-2006 07:17


As a fifth NCO is arrested, the army names the soldier victim of heat exhaustion as Private Gavin Williams from Hengoed in South Wales, who had served in the regiment for around six months and joined while they were in Iraq. Private Gavin Williams, 22 of the Royal Welsh, who died on Monday from heat exhaustion, had been forced to perform strenuous physical exercises — known as a “beasting”. The squaddie was being punished for "general indiscipline which included being absent without leave" compunded with payback for a prank with a fire hose after a drinking session following England's defeat in the World Cup.

The beasting comprised Private Williams being forced to undertake strenuous exercise carrying weights as temperatures hit 30°C (86°F) on one of the hottest days of the year. Around lunchtime Private Williams collapsed and was first taken to the Queen Elizabeth medical centre on the Tidworth Barrack site who called paramedics believing that he had suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Salisbury District Hospital as an emergency case and immediately placed in the crash room and frantic attempts made at resuscitation. He died some time before 4pm.

Wiltshire police were brought in because the death had occurred on civilian premises. Five soldiers, including adjutant Captain Mark Davis who is in charge of regimental discipline and four NCOs of differing senior and junior ranks are being questioned by Wiltshire Police at Salisbury police station in connection with manslaghter. Among the questions police expect to raise are whether Private Williams was denied water.

[Bob Bacon]

Family finally lays solider Gavin to rest

Oct 25 2006

icWales

The family of a soldier who died nearly four months ago while exercising said today they were pleased to “finally” lay him to rest. Hundreds of mourners braved heavy downpours to attend the funeral of Private Gavin Williams of Hengoed, south Wales. The 22-year-old collapsed and died during an incident at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth on July 3. Five servicemen from his regiment – the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh – were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death and have since been released on bail. Gary Jenkins, the uncle of Pte Williams, said: “As a family we are pleased to finally have Gavin home, and to be able to lay him to rest.

Story continues

[Bob Bacon]

Three soldiers have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 22-year-old private at a barracks.

Three servicemen are to be charged with manslaughter following the death of Private Gavin Williams who collapsed while allegedly being punished at his barracks, the Crown Prosecution Service said today. Pte Williams, from Hengoed, Caerphilly, was serving with the Royal Welsh regiment when he died.

Lawyers for the CPS advised Wiltshire Police to charge Sergeant Russell Price, Sergeant Paul Blake and Lance Corporal John Edwards with manslaughter following the death of Private Gavin Williams on July 3, 2006.

Stephen O'Doherty, CPS reviewing lawyer, said: "Pte Williams, a soldier with the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh, was to be charged and would have faced sanctions and an inquiry into a series of alleged disciplinary breaches he had committed."



He said that Pte Williams was subjected to "an intense period of physical activity amounting to unlawful punishment, on an extremely hot day".

[led9750]

i am sure [and i speak for us all ] that most of us had a beasting in the jail and i am sure that the nco,s did not intend for this spell in jail to end in the death of of Pte Williams .
but this incedent ending up in the civvie courts will have a major nock on effect on how disipline in the army is carried out.
They ought to have dealt with this internaly , now i fear for the nco's involved , in court trying to explain how the army often give people a good beasting to sought them out.
Thease nco's will get a jail term for doing there job .
At the same time my sympathy goes to the family of Pte Williams .
i found in my time the thought of the white webbing and helmet and Irv giving me more **** than what you can imagine soughted me out , a 100 pound fine would have done nothing

lets hope that some of the jury are ex army , then they might understand what happened

cheers
led

[sean a coy]

first of all this is a sad case, and my condolances go out to the young lads family. This case is a mine field to even comment on in the first place for legal and ethical reasons.

However, I'm sure statistically the chances of this happening on a beasting by the provo staff to a young, fit lad who's just had six previous month's of beasting in basic training are about the same as being bitten by a great white shark off the coast of barry island ? I'm not condoning the beasting at all and I don't know any details of the case, but would this have happened if the poor lad was playing five aside footy around about the same time?
has led pointed out, beasting has been going on for decades and and it worked on me too! but, they used to put kids up chimneys back in the day because that worked too.
It's 2007 now and fusiliers are not the same animal as they were in 1908. maybe its time to move on from beasting ? what the alternatives? I don't know, but I'm sure there's plenty of military psychologists who could push the next phase of disclipline at bn level.

thanks.
sean ''oc'' o'connor

[idris thomas]

This Death was stupid and unnecessary and amounted to bullying.Our NCO'S in the 50's
Must have been gentlmen compared to these idiots.When I compare them to Sgt. E.Pring Cpl, Mc Cormack, Cpl Collins Cpl. Jackson Cpl. Donovanand Sgt. Mann M.M.They were tough and good instructors and never went over the top with the disipline.or is my old memory letting me down,I dont think so.

[UKSniper]

This Death was stupid and unnecessary and amounted to bullying.Our NCO'S in the 50's
Must have been gentlmen compared to these idiots.

So I take it you were there to witness exactly what happened. It's a good job you won't be on the jury as you have condemned these men as guilty.

In this great country of ours they are innocent until proven guilty. Being charged does not mean they are guilty and I am sure that justice will prevail and you will see these men found not guilty.

[Barry69]

Yes I agree me must await the evidence before drawing conclusions, and whatever the reason I am sure this was an accident and that all concerned are deeply regretful.

Never the less with the lose of a son a brother a friend all you want it the truth and justice


Barry

[Scouse75]

I am well aware and appreciative of the fact that the forum is a place where personal opinions and objective viewpoints are aired amongst each other, however, In this instance can I offer my humble opinions at this time. I believe that we may need to take a step back here and consider a few relevant points.

1. UK Sniper is quite correct in the fact that although charged, at this stage, the charged men have not been found guilty of any offence.
2. We may also need to be mindful of the fact that this link on the forum may well be being read by relatives/colleagues of Pte Williams and those of the soldier's involved.

Please forgive me if you feel that we all should be able to demonstrate our views on this sensitive subject, but all I ask is that we perhaps consider the two points above. In time, at the conclusion of the court case, all facts will be public knowledge. Can we honestly all say at this point in time, that we actually know all the evidence that is available.

Cheers,

Scouse75