Army officers’ firework fight set base ablaze

DRUNKEN Army officers set their barracks ablaze after flares and fireworks were set off during a mock ‘gladiator fight’, a court martial heard yesterday.

Following a boozy dinner, soldiers battled one another in a swimming pool using brooms with pillows on the end – inspired by the 1990s TV show Gladiators.

But Captain Rupert Nurich shot a flare straight through the window of living quarters at Allenby Barracks in Bovington, Dorset, causing a blaze so substantial ten fire crews were needed to extinguish it.

Following the ‘fathers and sons’ meal last July, a group of around 50 soldiers and their civilian guests retired to the bar and pool area.

The officers had planned ‘gladiatorial combat games’ for the ‘ post- dinner entertainment’, and tried to build a pontoon over the pool using a few planks of wood and a kayak, the court heard.

Earlier in the evening Lieutenant Tim Carpenter told Nurich he had found three flares for that night’s ‘festivities’, Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard.

When Nurich tried to walk on the pontoon, he fell in the pool before getting out and launching an out-of-date flare.

It smashed through the sev- enth-floor bedroom window of a female steward, who was inside at the time.

All occupants were evacuated as firefighters tackled the ensuing blaze, which tore through the corridor.

Pictures of the scene showed

‘His actions were reckless’

significant damage to the upper level. During the evening soldiers were fighting with Roman Candle fireworks and a ‘ drunk’ Nurich let off two other flares, the court was told.

Carpenter and Nurich, both of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, deny arson and criminal damage as to recklessly endanger life.

David Edwards, prosecuting, said: ‘There was a troop leaders’ fathers dinner that finished at 11pm. Lots of people, having a bit to drink, then went outside to the pool.

‘The steward knew the games were going on and was on the phone at the time when the flare came through her window. When this happened the defendants and others went in to try and put the fire out.

‘The fire crew was called but there was substantial damage to the building.’

Mr Edwards added: ‘ The Crown don’t say this was a deliberate act, but his actions were reckless.’

Witness Captain Daniel Gregory told the court: ‘It was a gladiator- style game where people would walk along the plank on the water and try to fight each other off.

‘Cpt Nurich fell in and looked a little embarrassed and we were all laughing because it was quite funny.

‘I looked at him when he got out and it looked like he had a cigar tube, then he fired it up straight so I realised it was a flare.

‘ There was an awkward silence and Cpt Nurich said, “excuse me, I need to go fight a fire,” or something like that.’

The case continues.