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Between 22.00 hrs and 22.15 hrs I received a radio message from the female Fijian at the Alpha 4 location informing me that a civilian male who had been drinking was attempting to gain entry to the Officers Mess. She stated that he (the male) has claimed that he lived in the Mess and as they were unaware that any civilians lived in the Mess they were asking my advice. Throughout the radio message I could hear a man's voice in the background being verbally abusive to the three guards.
SSgt xxxxxx then despatched me to the Officers Mess with the civilian driver. At about 2215 hrs I arrived at the rear gate of the Officers Mess where I saw a male I would describe as being about 5"8" tall and of slim build. He has receding reddish coloured hair and spoke with a very heavy Irish accent. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark coloured leather jacket. I now know this man to be a Mr. xxxxxx He was being verbally abusive to all three members of the Guard, saying words to the effect of "You #ing bastards won't let me into my house". As I approached the main he said to me "Who the # are you?". To which I replied "Good evening Sir, I am Cpl xxxxxx, 2 I/C of the Guard, what seems to be the problem Sir?, He replied, "These #s won't let me into my house". I asked him to keep the profanities to himself I remember I looked over and saw Pte Gray smile at this. I then explained that the Guard were only during their job to which he replied "They're useless #ers".
After about 10 minutes of this abuse I asked the female Fijian to call the Officers Mess Reception. It was however engaged I decided to escort Mr. xxxxxx to the Mess in order to confirm his identity and right to be there. With Pte Gray as escort. I took Mr. xxxxxx to the Mess where his identity was confirmed by a couple of officers there. Whilst we were at the Mess, a Major, whose name I wrote down at the time but cannot remember who had witnessed the incident with Mr. xxxxxx from the front garden of his married quarter which is situated directly across from the gate approached me and informed me that I had handled
On our return to the Guardroom SSgt xxxxxx asked if any of them wanted to put in a complaint about Mr. xxxxxx The female said she did because her called her a "bitch". I then signed in the weapons and ammunition for the off-going watch and sent them through to the "bunk room".
During this off watch period 2300 hrs to 0100 hrs I spoke to Pte Gray who was interested in the Commando Course and what the training was like. He also asked about the upper body training because he said he wasn't strong in the arms and wanted to know what exercises he should do to improve his strength and stamina. Throughout our conversations he appeared happy and was laughing and joking with me. I had previously noted that Pte Gray took great care over his appearance and would straighten his trousers when he got out of the wagons and always checked himself off prior to starting his watch he was a keen and well turned out soldier even at this hour of the night.
About 0110 hrs, I received a telephone cal from an officer whose name I don't remember, but whose details are in the Occurrence Log, informing me that he had heard 3 shots in rapid succession from the area of the Officers Mess. At the same time call sign Alpha 2, the Wandering Patrol at Princess Royal Bks reported that they had heard 3 shots, but were unable to pinpoint their location. As soon as call sign Alpha 2 had signed off, call sign Alpha 4 gave the same report, and added that Pte Gray was out on a wandering patrol alone.
We patrolled all the way around the perimeter at a slow walk, with no white light. Pte xxxxxxx was at the point and I was in the middle, leaving Pte xxxxxxxxx bringing up the rear. At no time during this patrol did we move more than a arm's length away from the fence (the body was found approximately 30cm from the perimeter fence) . The patrol found nothing.
On our return to the rear gate I asked them if Pte Gray had come back yet, they said he hadn't so we commenced a second search of the area, this time in extended line, approximately 5m apart. On this occasion we used our torches and swept through the bushes and trees, still finding nothing.
We then completed a third circuit of the perimeter of the Officers Mess Compound, again in a clockwise direction, which again found nothing. On completion of this patrol 5 more members of the guard arrived and I detailed them off to make a thorough search of the area within the compound fence. I informed them that should they find anything they have to make 3 blasts on their whistles.
Three of the men went off towards the corner of the car park and just short of some trees took cover, calling me over to their location. On my arrival they informed me that they had seen movement and heard voices inside the fence area. Two of the three men were xxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxx, the third man I can't remember the name of, but remember taking the weapon from when he went to make ready.
I placed the men in extended line with torches on and again found nothing. I neither heard or saw anything out of the ordinary. I then posted two men to the area of the front gate, and continued the search. After a while I began to feel frustrated and moved back towards the car park. It was then that I heard 3 whistle blasts.
WO2 xxxxxxxxxx, who was the Duty Officer, arrived at this time, which was about 0200 hrs. Along with Pte xxxxxxx the 3 of us moved around to the area of the front gate from where the whistle blasts had come. On our arrival Pte xxxxxxx took up a fire position and WO2 xxxxxxxxxx stayed back in the shadows as he wasn't armed I then spoke to the men at the gate who informed me that they had seen somebody run from right to left diagonally across the cricket pitch which adjoins the Officers Mess Compound.
Whilst we were doing this (checking Geoff Gray's pulse after having found the body) I talked to the men and at one stage told them to be quiet because I was sure I could hear someone climbing over the fence of the cricket pitch in the distance. I could not, however, see anything or do anything about this. About 0230 hrs the RMPs arrived and called me over and asked me a few questions in relation to who was in charge.
Within the first five minutes of being at the back gate, I asked Pte xxxxxxxxx if he had heard the fence rattle as I had done. Although it was rather windy, the rattling sounded louder than as if the fence was shaken by the wind, more as if someone was physically shaking it.
Pte xxxxxxxxx and I decided between us that, under the circumstances, we should whistle for assistance just in case someone may be climbing the fence etc. At that point Pte xxxxxxxxx also stated that he thought he had seen someone in the area, however, I did not see anyone.