My children kept asking how their dad died but the Army never told me
didn’t offer much information. It’s taken two years to hear my husband’s exact injuries and the Americans’ account.
“After he died, Honiiee-Mai kept asking where Daddy was but she seems to have gone backwards since then.
“She’s a normal curious almost-fouryear-old who asks things like, ‘Did Daddy die in a fire?’ or ‘Did Daddy bleed a lot when he died?’ I want to be able to give her answers when she’s older.”
Sally, of Warminster, has now been told she must apply under the Freedom of Information Act to gain a copy of the full American report after small parts of it were read out by the coroner.
She said: “It’s ridiculous. Anthony was my husband. We spent nine years together, yet it counts for nothing.” When a US General told her the officer would face no punishment or charges, Sally says she was “devastated”.
She said. “There’s no justice. I know Anthony wasn’t wearing the right helmet, but he was only nipping around the base working. I kept asking the General why – he said that was the end of the matter.”
CHAPEL
Sally also told of being brought face-toface with the man who caused her husband’s death – on the day Anthony was repatriated to Brize Norton.
She says she was waiting to leave her home on the base when a military chaplain took her to the chapel. Sally said: “The padre told me not to leave Cyprus with a belly full of hate.
“I felt ambushed, and was so shocked I just went along with it. When we got to the chapel a soldier of about 26 was standing there with his commanding officer and I just looked at him.
“He told me his partner had a child on the way. I told him the child would be lucky to have a dad, as mine wouldn’t.
“He just kind of looked at me. Then his commanding officer told me he’d been on suicide watch and felt awful.
“To be honest I just didn’t care – and I still don’t. I think they wanted me to forgive him, but I can’t.”
The Wakefield inquest ruled Anthony had died as a result of a road traffic collision. Sally was represented at the hearing by lawyers at Bolt Burdon Kemp.
Rhicha Kapila, head of the firm’s military department, said: “It’s disappointing that, nearly two years on, Sally is fighting to obtain key US investigation reports.
“There is a desperate need for transparency and disclosure, so that the family of Sgt Oxley is reassured his death was properly investigated.
“There needs to be a clear understanding as to how and why the US General decided not to press charges.”
The MoD said: “Our thoughts are with Colour Sgt Oxley’s family and friends. We continue to offer support, providing briefings from the MoD and US military.”