The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Black Watch soldier dies after training incident
Man suffered ‘serious head wound’ in live firing exercise in Northumberland
A Black Watch soldier has been killed while on exercise in Northumberland.
The Ministry of Defence has not yet identified the man but confirmed he is a solder with the Royal Regiment of Scotland. It is understood he is a member of the 3rd battalion – better known as The Black Watch – which traditionally recruits in Perthshire, Dundee, Angus and Fife.
Northumbria Police said the man suffered a “serious head wound” in a live firing exercise at the Otterburn Training Area on Monday night. The Ministry of Defence is investigating.
The man’s next of kin have been informed.
Armed Forces minister Mike Penning said: “The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and, while deaths in training don’t happen often, any death is a tragedy.”
A soldier killed during a live-firing exercise in Northumberland is from The Black Watch, The Courier understands.
The male soldier died after sustaining a “serious head wound”, said Northumbria Police.
He has not been identified and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said only that he was a serving member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
However it is believed he is based at Fort George, the home of The Black Watch.
The regiment, which is now the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, traditionally recruits from Perthshire, Dundee, Angus and Fife.
Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning said the incident happened at the Otterburn Training Area on Monday night. The MoD is investigating.
Mr Penning said: “My thoughts are with the soldier’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
“The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and, while deaths in training don’t happen often, any death is a tragedy.
“As well as a police investigation, MoD accident investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.”
A spokesman said the Defence Safety Authority is investigating, but added that there were no details on whether any other personnel were involved.
He said: “At around 11.15pm last night police received a report that a soldier had been shot on the military ranges in Otterburn during a live-firing exercise.
“Emergency services attended and found the male soldier had received a serious head wound. Sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
“Police will be working with the Ministry of Defence to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and a cordon is currently in place. Military officials have informed the soldier’s next of kin.”
The mother of another soldier at Otterburn sent her condolences to the family of the man killed.
Posting online, she wrote: “Had a phone call from (my son). He is on exercise at Otterburn but he is fine.
“My heart goes out to the poor boy’s family – could have been any one of us getting the visit.”
The death comes little more than a month after another Scottish soldier died while on a training exercise in Brecon, Wales.
Joshua Hoole, from Ecclefechan near Lockerbie, died on July 19 while on a pre-course training for the platoon sergeants’ battle course.