Ashes of teen soldier to be scattered from the sky

Pte Harry Johnson was an award-winning recruit in the British Army

The ashes of a teenage soldier who hoped to join the Parachute Regiment will be scattered from the sky after his death following a training exercise.

Pte Harry Johnson, of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, died at Vimy Barracks in Catterick Garrison on 24 July, just three months after he had joined the British Army.

An ex-paratrooper will skydive from a plane set to take off from Shotton Airfield in County Durham on Sunday morning before scattering the ashes of the 19-year-old from Doncaster.

Pte Johnson's mother Rowen paid tribute to the award-winning trainee and told the BBC: "He was just everything you would want in a son."

"He was kind, generous and really respectful towards other people," she added.

"I don't think we will ever accept what's happened because it's not the natural order of things for your children to go before you."

Pte Johnson collapsed and died after completing a six-mile "tab", his mother said.

"It's so hard to process it when he was as fit and healthy as he was," said Ms Johnson.

"He died doing what he loved. He desperately wanted to be a paratrooper, he wanted to get to 1 PARA and put himself up for selection for the SAS.

"He had a lot of ambition. If this hadn't have happened, he would have made it."

An inquest into Pte Johnson's death is expected to take place early next year.

Pte Harry Johnson, left, died after a physical training session at Vimy Barracks in Catterick in July

Sunday's tribute will be attended by his friends, family members and girlfriend, as well as members of the Bruneval Platoon which he had joined to begin his Infantry Initial Trade Training.

"Harry never got the chance to do his jump, this is a way he can do it," said Ms Johnson.

"It just means everything."

Some of Pte Johnson's "prized possessions" will be alongside him for his final journey, including his beret, watch and a bear from his beloved five-year-old sister.

"He was just so close to his little sister," said Ms Johnson, a mother of two.

Pte Johnson, from Bentley, had long held ambitions to join the military, she revealed.

He attended the QPD Forces Preparation College in Doncaster prior to joining the Army aged 18, having been an Army Cadet from the age of 13.

'A stellar recruit'

In their tribute, the Ministry of Defence said Pte Johnson "had already proved himself to have enormous potential as a soldier" after joining in April.

He had completed basic training within 3 Platoon, B Company just 13 days before his death, winning best shot in his unit.

Corporal Walker, Pte Johnson's section commander during his basic training, described him as "a stellar recruit who understood exactly what it meant to be a soldier".

Lt Col Ben Jesty, commanding officer of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, said the teenager "represented the best of his generation".

"Tipped to be a future P Company champion, he was the kind of young soldier that the country needs."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.