Huddersfield soldier ordered to down his weapon – while at war

Jun 25 2009 By Emma Davison

Jason Pedelty

After four years he decided to leave and signed out of the Army, but had to work a further 12 months before being able to leave.

Mr Pedelty was given a deadline of May this year to change his mind and he did, signing back in just before his 22nd birthday.

On May 18 he was posted out to Iraq and was carrying out active duties when he was called to see his superior on June 23.

Mrs Pedelty, whose other son Jordan also has Army ambitions, said: “He was sent to the main officer there on his camp and told to put down his weapon, take off his ammunition and that he shouldn’t be wearing his uniform because he is a civilian.

“He had to go back to his barracks, take off his uniform and put his civilian clothes on, told he wasn’t allowed to do duties and moved to another part of the camp away from his friends and colleagues.”

Mr Pedelty is now waiting to see if he can resume duty, but his family say they are still furious at his treatment.

Mrs Pedelty said: “There’s obviously been some sort of mistake with Jason’s papers, but they should have spotted there was a problem before sending him off to war – he should never have been in this position.

“We’re absolutely furious and shocked this has been allowed to happen and our son is heartbroken because he wants to be doing the job he has been trained to do. If they can treat someone who is fighting for their country like that then we would rather have him home.

“It’s an awful feeling having a son who is out there on his own now and being unable to help him. My husband said if he had been killed would he even have been sent back as a war hero or treated as a mistake because he shouldn’t have been there?”

The Examiner has asked the Army for an explanation of the events and is waiting for a response.