Matty Hull

Infobox Military Person
name= Matthew Richard Hull
lived= 31 March 1976 – 28 March 2003
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath= convert|25|mi|km north of Basra, Iraq


caption= Matty Hull
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
serviceyears= unknown – 28 March 2003
rank= Lance-Corporal of Horse
branch=
commands=
unit=
battles= Operation Telic
awards=
laterwork=

Lance-Corporal of Horse Matthew Richard "Matty" Hull (31 March 1976 – 28 March 2003) was a British soldier from D Squadron, The Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry.

L/CoH Hull was killed in a friendly fire incident whilst deployed on Operation Telic, the British element of the invasion of Iraq. The incident took place convert|25|mi|km north of Basra, on 28 March 2003.

Whilst not the only incident during Operation Telic, the circumstances of the inquest into the death of Matty Hull led to an alleged diplomatic incident related to the release of video evidence from the attacking aircraft. As a result of this inquest, Hull's death was ruled by a civilian coroner in the UK as unlawful.

Friendly fire incident

The friendly fire incident occurred when two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft of the Idaho Air National Guard, 190th Fighter Squadron, nearing the end of an operational mission, attacked a four vehicle British reconnaissance patrol of Scimitar armoured vehicles. The vehicles were fired upon by the A10s' GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm cannon in a series of strafing runs.

As a result of the attack Hull died and five colleagues were injured. One of the A-10 pilots who attacked the British patrol was subsequently confirmed as Lieutenant Colonel Gus Kohntopp. Hull was three days shy of his 27th birthday.

Funeral

L/CoH Hull was buried in a military funeral in Windsor on 16 April 2003. The band of the Blues and Royals, based at Combermere Barracks, some 200 soldiers and Hull's family (including his widow, Susan) accompanied the bier at Holy Trinity Garrison Church, Windsor. [ [http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/windsor2003/matty_hull_2003.html The Military Funeral of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull ] ]

Inquest

Bodies of those servicemen dying overseas are repatriated to the UK via RAF Brize Norton. As a result, responsibility for inquests comes under the civilian jurisdiction of the Oxfordshire coroner. An inquest into the death of L/CoH Hull was convened in 2006, presided over by Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker.

The inquest generated significant media interest following comments made by Walker related to classified video footage and its subsequent leak to the British media.

On 16 March, the coroner returned a narrative verdict, stating that the killing of Hull was "unlawful". Walker said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6449227.stm BBC NEWS | UK | 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful ] ]

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2901515.stm "BBC news website report" - Troops' anger over US 'friendly fire']
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6453365.stm?ls 'Friendly fire' widow's Bush plea]
* [http://www.operations.mod.uk/telic/hull.htm MoD statement on death of L/CoH Hull]
* [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007060133,00.html "The Sun" video article]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6326193.stm BBC News profile of Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker]
*cite web
last = Dunn
first = Tom Newton
year = 2007
url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007060452,00.html
title = Matty had no chance
format =
work = The Sun
accessdate = 2007-02-09