| It was reported in the British press in March 2010 | | | | If they had been driving a Wmik Landrover they |
| that British Soldiers in Afghanistan "would be alive" if | | | | would very probably have driven either side of the |
| they had the right equipment. The British | | | | water course and therefore would have had a far |
| Government had failed to increase the funding to the | | | | greater possibility of surviving. A former infantry |
| troops in real terms. | | | | commander has called the Snatch Landrover a "death |
| The relatives of the first female soldier Cpl Sarah | | | | trap" and Dr Richard North a defence expert had |
| Bryant who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008 believe | | | | advised that it was "totally inadequate" for dealing |
| that she and her colleagues would be alive today if | | | | with mines and bombs. |
| the Labour Government had provided her with the | | | | Major Sebastian Morley the SAS squadron |
| proper equipment and training. | | | | commander in Helmand province resigned four |
| The verdict of the coroner was that they were killed | | | | months after this terrible incident and he accused the |
| unlawfully. | | | | Labour government of being "Cavalier at best Criminal |
| The coroner said that they did not have the proper | | | | at worst " over equipping troops. He accused |
| equipment or training. | | | | Whitehall officials of or continually ignoring warnings |
| The Prime Minister said on 10th March 2010 that the | | | | that people would be killed if they continued to allow |
| training and equipment was being improved but this is | | | | troops to be transported in Snatch Land Rovers. |
| all too little to late after all he has been the Chancellor | | | | At the inquest into their deaths evidence was heard |
| of the Exchequer since 1997. | | | | that they were forced to use this vehicle because of |
| Cpl Sarah Bryant was killed in Helmand Province in | | | | vehicle shortages and that they lacked training in the |
| Afghanistan on June 17th 2008. With her were killed | | | | use of metal detectors.Rather crucial I would have |
| Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Trooper | | | | thought when you need to detect mines that are |
| Paul Stout when their Snatch Land Rover was hit by | | | | made of metal. |
| a roadside bomb. The Snatch Land Rover was not | | | | The Labour Government has said that the defence |
| designed for Afghanistan. It had previously been | | | | budget is rising but that is the very least that one |
| deployed in Northern Ireland on tarmac roads, not | | | | would expect if you have two wars to fight one in |
| sand in a desert. This vehicle has been involved in at | | | | Iraq and one in Afghanistan. |
| least 37 deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. | | | | It seems that the Government failed to properly |
| The inquest was told how British soldiers had | | | | plan, act or equip the troops with the proper |
| repeatedly asked for Wmik Land Rovers which have | | | | equipment |
| much better off road ability where as the Snatch is | | | | Therefore the deaths of these Soldiers must fall on |
| designed for use on real roads. | | | | their conscious. This is not a legacy that I would be |
| When the British soldiers were informed that they | | | | proud of that is of soldiers being sent to war who |
| would only have the Snatch Land Rover for their | | | | are both poorly equipped and trained. |
| specific operation they greeted the news with some | | | | Only now, some two years after these soldiers |
| "disbelief" indeed soldiers had nick named these | | | | death is the government arranging for new |
| vehicles as "Mobile Coffins". | | | | equipment to be delivered in the later half of 2010. |
| They were made to be used on regular roads as | | | | It is very sad that unlawful killing (the coroners' |
| they could not drive off road. | | | | verdict) of British Soldiers is part of the Labour |
| They had used a metal detector to check a water | | | | Legacy. |
| course for mines but sadly some 70 metres later the | | | | This is brought home to us every week as those |
| Snatch vehicle detonated a mine hidden in a shallow | | | | lines of Black Hearses proceed through Wooton |
| ditch. The blast was described as huge. All four died | | | | Basset bringing back our dead heroes. |
| almost instantly. | | | | |