A SCOTS soldier who was posted absent without leave has had this rescinded after a report from his doctor was endorsed by the Army.
David McBride, 17, was posted Awol after failing to return from leave to his Royal Highland Fusiliers base in Cyprus. His mother in Glasgow said he was depressed at the prospect of being sent to Iraq when he turned 18.
An MoD spokesman in Cyprus said yesterday it was accepted that Fusilier McBride had a medical complaint, and that this had been confirmed by an Army doctor. ''The procedure is that, if your own doctor signs you off, you take this to the Army medical service to have it authenticated,'' he said.
''It is a procedural matter which hadn't been carried out in this case, leading to him being posted Awol. It has since been taken care of, so he is no longer Awol.''
The same may apply to Fusilier Brian Wright, 18, from Glasgow, also Awol after attending the funeral of Fusilier Gordon Gentle, the 60th British soldier killed in Iraq. Earlier this week, Fusilier Wright was also said to be suffering from depression.
''This may also be a technicality arising from him not having had his own doctor's diagnosis ratified by the Army - I don't know if it is that or he simply doesn't want to go back,'' said the spokesman.
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