A British Army soldier has been sentenced after a reckless act left two colleagues with significant hearing injuries. Fusilier Nathan Lawler, 22, activated a battle noise simulator—a pyrotechnic device designed to replicate the sounds of combat—without proper training, injuring fellow troops at the end of a military exercise in Germany.
The incident occurred on 30 August 2023, during a 31-day exercise at the Altmark training area. Lawler, serving with the First Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, discharged the device on the roof of a two-storey building where four colleagues stood without hearing protection.
Injuries and Consequences
One soldier suffered a ruptured eardrum and required a three-to-six-month recovery period, while another experienced hearing loss that rendered him unfit for deployment. Both experienced pain and ringing in their ears immediately after the incident.
Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard that Lawler, who had not slept for 48 hours, was imitating others who had used similar devices to mark the end of exercises. Prosecutor Captain Michael Acton emphasised that Lawler’s actions violated safety protocols, as it was his duty to avoid setting off pyrotechnics in such circumstances.
Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill noted the serious nature of Lawler’s misconduct. “You made a serious mistake that day and put your colleagues who couldn’t do anything to protect themselves at serious risk,” he said.
Defence and Mitigation
Benjamin Hale, defending, argued that Lawler’s actions were not malicious but a poorly judged attempt at celebration. He highlighted the soldier’s exhaustion, lack of training with the device, and the absence of intent to cause harm.
“There is no evidence to suggest the injuries are permanent,” Hale stated, adding that Lawler immediately apologised to those affected.
Sentencing
Lawler, who left the Army in November 2023 to pursue a career in security, was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work over 12 months and pay £1,000 in compensation. The sum will be split equally between two of the injured soldiers.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols, particularly when handling military-grade equipment, and the potential consequences of failing to do so.
