Call for inquiry into soldier’s death

The heartbroken father of a Black Country soldier who drowned during an exercise in Jamaica is demanding a public inquiry ten years on.

Grenadier Guardsman Craig Lashley died as he was swimming from an abandoned bamboo raft on the Rio Grande on May 7, 1998. The 21-year-old’s family had to wait five years to get answers when a coroner ruled he died as a result of a lack of Army safety precautions.

But a court martial of supervising officers collapsed and Craig’s father Gordon is calling on Government officials to look into the events of the horrific day.

The 78-year-old, who completed military service and whose father also served in the army, said he was pleased the Army had been found at fault but had wanted a verdict of manslaughter to have been returned by the inquest jury.

He said he and his wife Carol wanted Army commanders to face justice and were prepared to take the case all the way to the European courts if they had to.

“They have just walked away, there has been no justice whatsoever for us relating to the loss of our boy,” said Mr Lashley, of Wells Road, Penn, Wolverhampton.

“Ten years on we are still pursuing justice and we are hoping for a public inquiry and will take it to the European courts if we have to, it has been too long now.

“We have never had a penny in compensation, we just want justice and it’s an utter disgrace.”

Craig, a former Highfields School pupil, had served in Northern Ireland including six months in the SAS and his time in Jamaica was part of preparations to join the elite force full-time.

He was swimming from an abandoned bamboo raft during a jungle exercise when he got into trouble. 

Despite the efforts of comrades he drowned. 

Following the inquest in Worcestershire in 2003 The Ministry of Defence issued a statement setting out how it had already improved procedures since the tragedy.