Military documents from Chester barracks found by dog walker

Dec 4 2008 Chester Chronicle

A MINISTRY of Defence investigation has been launched after a box of military documents from the Dale Barracks in Chester was found by a dog walker.

Simon Henry, 35, was with his girlfriend when he came across the cardboard box containing documents, CDs and disks, marked from the Dale Barracks, near Chester, home to the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

He said the documents had details and pictures about weaponry and about bases in Cyprus, from where the Fusiliers had returned in August.

Mr Henry, who found the box by a pond near his Rhyl home, said: “There were diagrams of mortars and missiles, details about bases in Cyprus and battle plans. Many of the documents were clearly marked ‘MoD’ or ‘Army’.”

The MoD insisted there was no classified information in the box but said an inquiry would be launched to uncover how it ended up dumped in North Wales.

Mr Henry said: “I was gobsmacked by what I found, I could not believe these documents were lying there in a box.

“I was looking through and I was amazed that these sort of details were just lying around. There could have been vital details in there that could have potentially compromised the regiment.

“The box was only half full so there could have been other documents that were now missing.”

But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The information in the box was not classified or sensitive information and in no way compromised security but an investigation would now take place to find out how the box ended up at this location.”

Mr Henry says he has been disappointed by the reaction of the police and Ministry of Defence.

He said: “The police were there quickly which was fair enough but when they arrived they could not fit the box in the boot of the patrol car.

“Instead they asked if I could drop the box off at the station, I was amazed at this.”

When asked about Mr Henry’s claims he had been asked to drop the box off at a station North Wales Police would only comment that none of the information in it was classified.

The 1st Royal Welsh moved to Dale Barracks in August after being stationed at Episkopi Barracks, in Cyprus, for two-and-a-half years.