Soldier's widow left 'in limbo' by Army

[Mr T.]

Soldier's widow left 'in limbo' by Army
By Sally Pook
(Filed: 25/05/2005)

The widow of a soldier who died on a routine diving exercise 15 months ago criticised the Army yesterday for failing to tell her how her husband had lost his life.


Sgt Bill McLellan

Sgt Bill McLellan, 34, an advanced diver, was based in Osnabruck, Germany and was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when he died in the River Weser.

At a brief adjourned inquest hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court in London yesterday - the fourth such inconclusive hearing of its kind - Elaine McLellan, 36, said in a statement: "We have been denied the dignity of an early inquest into Bill's death.

"For me and my family this has intensified the grief and suffering of our loss and left us living in a kind of limbo."

She said she understood a court martial was due to take place in Germany. "Why a court martial is necessary we don't know but it can only imply some suspected wrongdoing on the part of the military," she added.

Her dismay was echoed by Dr Paul Knapman, the Westminster coroner, who said he had already expressed his "disquiet" to the Army.

Col Hugh Welby-Everard, for the Army, told the hearing: "It is a very difficult technical case and expert advice has had to be sought to put it before the Attorney General.

"As soon as his view has been given then the Army Prosecuting Authority will know whether they are going to proceed with criminal charges or not."

[Ashbypower]

Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers??

Not with that cap badge!!

[Mark-B]

Definately not REME, with that cap badge on that beret, if I am not mistaken it can only be 9 parachute squadron Royal Engineers, a link to the squadrons own site for those interested http://www.ninepara.co.uk/.


Regards
Mark

[Mr T.]

Thought it looked suss when I read it, what with the specialist (Army) diving group being RE.