posted on Nov, 7 2004 @ 04:10 AM
I know this story is terrible, and I know most of the parties involved. I was in the sister troop to Leaning (Dalton troop) through Army Basic
Training, and was with him during his time at Deepcut. I also served at Deepcut later on.
Knowing Les Skinner too, I have no doubt that these allegations are true, and they should not have been swept under the carpet in any way. My only
point on this whole matter is the way the Deepcut is being protrayed as some kind of seriously tough camp with a culture for torture - bullying etc.
This is one of the softest camps in the Army, and at the time of these offences it was a great place to be for a soldier, living a very easy life. It
is tragic that a predator like Les was allowed to be left there to his own devices, just as it is tragic that some young people have taken their lives
there, but the whole Deepcut conspiracy theory doesn't hold water.
And by the way, it's very easy to shoot yourself 5 times. Just put your rifle on fully auto, place it in your mouth and pull the trigger. It will
fire a burst of 5 or six rounds and it will kick around never shooting you in the same place twice. Not nice, not funny, but hugely possible.
Let's make sue that our young soldiers have the help and support that they deserve, both mentally as well as physically! At the same time, let's
stop general witchunts, and go after monsters like Les Skinner!