Why the media frenzy? Death on the field is an occupational hazard, argues philip jacobson
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It is right and proper to mourn every British serviceman killed in Iraq, but the media reaction to Corporal Gordon Pritchard becoming the 100th soldier to die was nothing short of hysterical - with more than a dash of hypocrisy thrown in. His photograph has appeared on virtually every front page under headlines dictated by each newspaper's editorial line on the war. Hence the Telegraph's reverential "Sacrifice"; the Mail's savage "How many more, Mr Blair?"; the Express's blunt "Killed for a lie".
Yet amidst the over-heated reports and sombre leading articles, one thing was largely overlooked: bluntly stated, getting killed is an occupational hazard for soldiers who go to war. In that respect, what difference is there between the first British fatality or the 101st, which statistically we may expect within the next two weeks? Cpl Pritchard's family made no attempt to duck this fact of life on the
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| Young men have always wanted to test themselves in combat, which explains the continuing appeal of elite units |
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front line, emphasising that their son, killed in a roadside bomb blast, had been proud to join the crack cavalry regiment in which his father and brother had also served.
Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the conflict in Iraq, we should remember that all those serving there volunteered to join the armed forces: in doing so, they implicitly accepted the risks involved. For many, that would have been an incentive: over the ages, young men have always wanted to test themselves in combat, which explains the continuing appeal of the elite units that are most likely to be involved in fighting.
It was something of a surprise, therefore, to find the Telegraph's distinguished military commentator, Sir John Keegan, agreeing with Tony Blair that Cpl Pritchard's death represents a "tragedy". It certainly does to the corporal's family. But Sir John taught aspiring professional soldiers for many years and he should understand better than most that dying on the battlefield is what the French like to call un hasard du métier. 
FIRST POSTED FEBRUARY 1, 2006
 Exclusive picture: Blair and the soldier
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