Killed soldier was due to become an officer

A British soldier who died in Cyprus when he was crushed by a four-ton truck was on his final training exercise to become an officer, the British Ministry of Defence said today.

Private James Parkinson, 26, a driver with the 44 Squadron Royal Logistic Corps in Camberley, Surrey, was taking part in an annual two-week stint on the Mediterranean island organised by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.