Soldier burnt after ‘sentence’ to walk on fire
Corporal airlifted to hospital after taking on kangaroo court’s forfeit for losing squadron mascot
‘He didn’t intend any harm to come to Cpl Black. What he said, he said in jest, in the belief he would not enter the fire’
A SOLDIER was badly burnt after he ran across a fire pit as a kangaroo court punishment for losing the squadron mascot, a court martial has heard.
Cpl Nathan Black, of A Squadron, Queen’s Royal Hussars, suffered serious burns in the incident and had to be airlifted to hospital.
Major David Landon, the Officer Commanding, told Cpl Black he had to choose between singing the regimental song or braving the hot coals of a fire pit after a “kangaroo court” ruled that the soldier had lost the squadron mascot.
To the officer’s surprise, Cpl Black took the “absurd” option of running across the fire pit. In doing so he stumbled and fell in, suffering serious burns.
Major Landon was given a severe reprimand and fined £5,000 after what was supposed to be a “humorous” event went badly wrong.
A military court heard that the incident happened in January this year. The Afghanistan veteran had just finished conducting a week of live fire training in Latvia with the Queen’s Royal Hussars. The 39-year-old and fellow soldiers from the tank regiment were in celebratory mood and had been allowed to drink alcohol and build a fire pit, the court heard.
Lt Col Hopkins, prosecuting, said: “Major Landon gave a short speech congratulating everyone on the successful completion of the live fire training course.
“All the ranks attending were allowed to drink within the twocan rule. Major Landon was present throughout and he was the senior officer present.” Bulford Military Court, Wilts, heard that the evening had been “jovial and goodhumoured” and for unknown reasons, Cpl Black had already voluntarily run across the pit twice.
At some point during the night, a kangaroo court was convened by the soldiers to decide who was responsible for losing the squadron’s mascot.
Lt Col Hopkins said: “Major Landon said, in jest, ‘it’s either a fire run or a rendition of the regimental song’. “Major Landon thought Cpl Black would opt for the song. After a momentary pause he ran across, but this time fell into, the fire pit.”
He was taken to hospital before being flown back to the UK where he was incubated and sedated to deal with the pain from burns to his hands and thighs.
After the incident, Major Landon, who was on secondment from the Royal Scots Dragoon
Guards, initially claimed that Cpl Black had simply “fallen into the pit”. But after he learnt of the severity of the soldier’s injuries, he said he was “mortified” and admitted the soldier had been running across it when he stumbled and fell.
Matthew Bolt, a barrister acting for Major Landon, said: “He didn’t intend any harm to come to Cpl Black. What he said, he said in jest, in the belief he would not enter the fire. His culpability lies in miscalculating the risks of those words.
“His expectation was [Cpl Black] would sing the regimental song and appreciate the absurdity of running across the fire.”
Sentencing him, Assistant Judge Advocate General Alan Large said: “There was a form of a so-called kangaroo court held to determine, in a humorous way, who was responsible for various events during the exercise.
“We accept that, as far as Landon is concerned, the latter was said in jest and he did not expect Cpl Black to do it.” However, he said the distinguished major, who had served the Armed Forces for 15 years, was unwise and should have been honest about the incident from the outset.
Major Langdon admitted a charge of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline.
Unlike Regimental or Battalion mascots, totemic items used by sub-units (squadrons and companies) in the Army are unofficial.
Many detachments or ad hoc groupings in the military produce badges or T-shirts with such imagery, particularly on operational tours.
Although unofficial, offensive words or images are not tolerated by the Armed Forces.
Not every squadron in the Royal Armoured Corps will have adopted a mascot and there is unlikely to be any historical significance to the item selected or great philosophical depth applied.