SergeantSteven Mark Roberts (1969–2003)[1] was the first British soldier to die in the 2003 invasion of Iraq on 24 March 2003. He was accidentally shot by a colleague using a tank-mounted machine gun while he was struggling with an Iraqi protester at a check point in Az Zubayr, near Basra. The Iraqi protester was also killed in that same incident. The gunner who shot Roberts had not been properly trained that the gun was inaccurate at short range. Sgt Roberts had been ordered to give up his body armour 3 days before he was fatally shot. The inquest held almost 4 years later into his death concluded he would have survived had he been wearing enhanced combat body armour.
After a lengthy campaign by Sgt Roberts family, in July 2006, the MOD changed their policy on Enhanced Combat Body Armour. Now no British soldier will go to a theatre of war without the option of wearing Enhanced Combat Body Armour.
steven, roberts, british, army, soldier, sergeant, steven, mark, roberts, 1969, 2003, first, british, soldier, 2003, invasion, iraq, march, 2003, accidentally, shot, colleague, using, tank, mounted, machine, while, struggling, with, iraqi, protester, check, po. Sergeant Steven Mark Roberts 1969 2003 1 was the first British soldier to die in the 2003 invasion of Iraq on 24 March 2003 He was accidentally shot by a colleague using a tank mounted machine gun while he was struggling with an Iraqi protester at a check point in Az Zubayr near Basra The Iraqi protester was also killed in that same incident The gunner who shot Roberts had not been properly trained that the gun was inaccurate at short range Sgt Roberts had been ordered to give up his body armour 3 days before he was fatally shot The inquest held almost 4 years later into his death concluded he would have survived had he been wearing enhanced combat body armour After a lengthy campaign by Sgt Roberts family in July 2006 the MOD changed their policy on Enhanced Combat Body Armour Now no British soldier will go to a theatre of war without the option of wearing Enhanced Combat Body Armour Sgt Roberts had been serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Cyclops Squadron 2 References edit Operations in Iraq Sergeant Steven Roberts GOV UK Ministry of Defence 24 March 2003 Retrieved 1 April 2020 Announcement of death of Sergeant Steven Roberts by the MOD Archived 2006 12 10 at the Wayback Machine lt references https hansard parliament uk lords 2007 05 17 debates 07051791000002 ArmedForcesStevenRobertsInquiryExternal links edit nbsp Cornwall portalKit delays led to soldier s death BBC news report on the Coroners hearing Sergeant Steven Roberts killed by friendly fire Police probe tank commander death MPs expenses soldiers sent to the slaughter Sgt Steven Roberts Steven Roberts killed by friendly fire in March 2003 https www iwm org uk memorials item memorial 52729 nbsp nbsp This biographical article related to the British Army is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Steven Roberts British Army soldier amp oldid 1176595430, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
