Soldier badly burned when ‘Kangaroo Court’ made him run across fire pit for losing squadron mascot

A soldier was badly burned after a ‘Kangaroo Court’ made him run across a fire pit when he lost the squadron mascot, a court martial has heard.

Corporal 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 Corporal Nathan Black he had to choose between singing the regimental song or braving the hot coals of a fire pit after a 'kangaroo court' decided 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.

Maj Landon was seriously reprimanded and fined £5,000 after what was supposed to be a “humorous” event went seriously wrong.

A military court heard that the incident happened in January this year after the 39-year-old Afghanistan veteran had finished conducting a week of live fire training in Latvia with tank regiment the Queen's Royal Hussars.

The soldiers were in celebratory mood and had been allowed to drink alcohol and build a fire pit, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins said: "Major Landon gave a short speech congratulating everyone on the successful completion of the live fire training course.

"[Following the speech] range targets were burnt in a fire pit. All the ranks attending were allowed to drink within the two can rule.

"Major Landon was present throughout and he was the senior officer present."

Bulford Military Court, Wilts, heard the evening had been “jovial and good humoured” and for unknown reasons Corporal Black had already voluntarily run across the pit twice before.

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 continued: "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."

The corporal 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, father of one Major Landon - who was on secondment from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - initially claimed Cpl Black had simply “fallen into the pit”.

However, after he learned of the severity of the soldier's injuries he said he was “mortified” and admitted that the soldier had actually been running across the flames when he stumbled and fell.

Mitigating, Mr Matthew Bolt, said: "[Major Landon] 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: "During the evening there was a form of a so-called kangaroo court.

"It was held to determine, in a humorous way, who was responsible for various events during the exercise.

"Major Landon told Corporal Black either to sing the song or run across the fire. We accept that as far as Landon is concerned that the latter was said in jest and he did not expect Corporal Black to do it."

However, he said the distinguished Major, who has been in the armed forces for 15 years, was unwise and should have been honest about the incident from the outset.

Major Langdon admitted one 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.