Fallen Servicemen and Women

[Pte Welsh]

 



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An army medic praised for his bravery while touring Iraq and Afghanistan with the SAS has taken his own life.



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Staff Sergeant Jamie Ferguson, 36, made a video in his final moments on June 18 in which he said: ‘I asked for help but no one was listening. They didn’t understand.’



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SSgt Ferguson, who shot himself at the Leuchars military base in Fife, Scotland, was the fifth military man to take his own life in a week.



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SSgt Ferguson, from Leicestershire, joined the army at 16, rising to the Royal Army Medical Corps and eventually serving the SAS between 2008 and 2012.



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His mental health took a blow after he tried in vain to save the life of a 22-year-old Guardsman who was trampled by a rogue elephant while they were on an anti-poaching patrol in Malawi.



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Ms Ferguson, 50, described the incident as ‘super-traumatic’ for her husband, who also struggled with an inquest into the death six months later.



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She told The Times: ‘When he came home, I could see he was tense. He said he didn’t want to practise medicine again because of the incident. He believed his mental health would be at risk if he continued.’



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‘The inquest had been weighing heavily on Jamie. He wanted somebody to say to him: “You did everything you could, you couldn’t have done anything more.”’



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SSgt Ferguson’s last posting was working as the Permanent Staff Instructor for 205 Field Hospital, based in Dundee.



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He was in 19 Sqn when I was at 16 Med. Absolute top bloke who'd do absolutely anything to help you. 

[WO2 Scarle]

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Sapper Connor Morrison, 20, stationed at Woodbridge in Suffolk, died in Ipswich on July 23.




The soldier, of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, was taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance two days earlier, after he was reported to have suffered breathing difficulties at Rock Barracks in Sutton Heath, Suffolk.




At the time, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust said it was called to “reports of a man with breathing problems”, and Suffolk Police said it received a report from the ambulance service that “a male had collapsed”.




Earlier that week, on July 19, a new UK record high temperature of 40.3C was recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire.




The Defence Safety Authority, Suffolk Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into his death in August.




Commanding Officer of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Crossley, paid tribute to the “professional soldier with much promise”, adding: “Keen and enthusiastic, he worked hard to achieve his goals at every stage of his training and impressed his instructors with his knowledge and skills.




“More importantly, he was a loyal friend and a genuine team player.”




He added: “Sapper Morrison was a truly selfless and kind-hearted professional soldier who made friends wherever he went.




“He proved himself to be a proud and loyal member of the Corps of Royal Engineers and will always be part of the Sapper family.




“Sapper Morrison will be sorely missed by the Regiment and all those he served alongside. We will remember him.”




Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said: “It is with deep sadness that I heard of the death of Sapper Connor Liam Morrison of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment.




“It’s clear from his colleagues that he had a passion for the British Army, made an instant positive impact on all those he served with, and always put the needs of his fellow soldiers above his own; a role model to all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones at this terrible time.”

[Pte Higgins]

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[Pte Welsh]

Sgt Dean "Waldo" Walton 3 PARA.




Multiple Herricks, a part of the Red Devils for many years, a talented Skydiver. Died on Friday in a skydiving accident in Spain with Nims Purja. They were doing CReW (Canopy Relative Work) when Waldo got caught in the burble behind Nims' canopy, his canopy collapsed and he fell through Nims' lines. Nims managed to cut away but Waldo couldn't disentangle himself from the canopy, and went in. Nims tried to save him but was unsuccessful.




Waldo was someone I considered a friend and this came as a shock. Til Valhalla, Blue Skies and I'll see you later Waldo. 



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[Pte Skeet]

Sgt Matthew "Slats" Slater 1 Royal Anglian.




7th June 2021.




A statement from the Royal Anglian Regiment;




Today the Regiment solemnly bid farewell to Sergeant Matthew Slater as he was laid to rest by his family and fellow soldiers. An operationally experienced Viking who served with the 1st Battalion continuously for 16 years, he will be long-remembered and deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the wider Regimental community. Sgt Slater served numerous tours of Afghanistan under the command of the Sniper Platoon and was highly thought of throughout the battalion.




 



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