SAC Susan Soutar, a reservist with No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force was killed on Saturday 13 October 2007 whilst on exercise with 603 Sqn at Haltern in Germany. Sue was fatally injured as a result of a road traffic accident during an evening road run near the entrance to Kohima Camp. A decision was taken to not include her name on the Memorial Wall at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. Her father, Wg Cdr Robert Smith, has worked tirelessly for almost 10 years to have her name included on the Memorial as the Board of Inquiry clearly stated that Sue was ‘on duty’ at the time of the accident.
It is with great pleasure that we report that the original decision has now been reversed and that Sue’s name will now be included on the wall at a ‘Naming Service’ later this year.
Group Captain Bob Kemp of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation said, “Sue was a lovely person and we were all devastated by the accident. I am delighted that her name will now be added to those of the other reservists killed whilst ‘on duty’. Sue’s father is to be congratulated for his perseverance and commitment in tirelessly working towards this goal”.
31 March 2017
Post-script
SAC Susan Soutar
We previously reported that Susan Soutar’s name was going to be added to the Arboretum Wall at the National War Memorial in Alrewas following considerable effort by her father Wg Cdr Robert Smith. Susan, was killed whilst on duty in Germany with 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron in October 2007. It is with great pleasure that we report that the naming ceremony was held in the Arboretum at Alrewas on 14 September and that members of 603 Sqn and Susan parents, Robert and Cynthia, were able to be present.
