Coroner Rules Max George's Salisbury Plain Death an Accident, Cites Flawed Training
A coroner has concluded that 'flawed' training contributed to the accidental death of Second Lieutenant Max George on Salisbury Plain. The 26-year-old officer, serving with the Household Cavalry Regiment, died in August 2022 during a training exercise.
During the inquest, the court heard that Second Lt George was struck by a Jackal 2 armoured vehicle while on foot. The vehicle was operating without its crew commander, a situation deemed highly unusual and outside standard procedure. Investigations revealed that the driver of the vehicle had not received sufficient training to operate it independently, nor had he undergone specific instruction for night-time driving operations.
The coroner highlighted significant deficiencies in the training provided for the vehicle's operation, particularly concerning crew roles and responsibilities during complex manoeuvres. The findings underscore critical oversights in military training protocols, which directly impacted the safety of personnel during the exercise. This incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of military training regimes and adherence to established safety guidelines.
