Colleagues of young soldier found dead ‘reprimanded’

Soldiers who arrived to a meeting where they learned a colleague had taken his life were reportedly given a bizarre punishment, multiple former Defence sources say. See the latest on the tragedy here.

SOLDIERS who arrived to a meeting where they learned a colleague had taken his life were reportedly reprimanded and told to write essays as a punishment, multiple former Defence sources say.

The actions of Army leaders following the suicide death of young soldier in Townsville on Tuesday are in question, but Defence has denied the allegations.

It comes just weeks after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide wrapped up public hearings in Townsville where Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell conceded the organisation was “not getting it right”.

The young man, who the Bulletin has chosen not to identify, was in his early 20s and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, sources say.

His devastated friends and family are mourning the loss after police recovered the young man’s body following an extensive search involving military and civilian resources.

A Defence spokesman on Wednesday confirmed a soldier had died but would not comment on the circumstances.

“The death of an Australian Army member, regardless of the circumstances, is a tragedy,” a spokesman said.

Troops in 1RAR were informed of the 20-year-old’s death at a short-notice parade on Wednesday morning.

The Bulletin was told that punishments were dished out to some people who arrived and that some were told they must write 1500 word essays. Defence refutes the claim.

Solicitor and Navy veteran Jacinta Harmer represents multiple clients before the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide for Operational Legal Australia described the alleged response from 1RAR leaders to the tragic death as “abhorrent”.

“This is a time for compassion and empathy,” she said.

“It is time that the Chain of Command, across the services, start to take a hard look at how they are managing and caring for their (personnel).

“These are issues that we continually see as a firm, it is not new and the majority of these issues can be solved with pragmatic solutions.”

Sources told the Bulletin the soldier who took his life on Tuesday was the target of bullying within the battalion.

Allegations of hazing, bullying and other unacceptable behaviour have been reported within 1RAR with some describing the unit as toxic.

Despite multiple investigations, Defence said it found no evidence of systemic misconduct.

Veterans advocate Senator Jacqui Lambie issued a stern warning to General Campbell that he had no more excuses.

“This is happening on your watch. How many more lives will we lose until you put an end to this garbage,” she said.

“If you aren’t big enough to fix it, hand the reins to someone who will.”

Ms Lambie said Defence was well aware of issues in the unit.

“They knew junior soldiers were showing up with broken bones and concussions thanks to stupid ‘boozer’ hazing ceremonies,” she said.

Sources told the Bulletin the soldier was the target of bullying within the battalion.

The Bulletin reported last month that people were punished after junior 1RAR soldiers were concussed and injured at the hands of their seniors in a series of incidents.

Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell recently told the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in Townsville that Defence had a “lot of work to do” to protect its workforce from service-related suicide.

He conceded the organisation was “not getting it right” in his evidence which revealed internal Defence data recorded 178 suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide of serving members.

Originally published as Colleagues of young soldier found dead ‘reprimanded’