Village shock at death of soldier Lance Corporal Joe Spencer from Bishopstoke

Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, 24, from Bishopstoke, died on Tuesday in a firearms incident at an RAF firing range in northern Scotland.

He was serving in the 3rd Battalion of The Rifles, a regiment with strong local links, with its predecessor regiments the Royal Green Jackets and the Light Infantry having museums in Peninsula Barracks, Winchester.

The family were too upset to talk about the death.

The Vicar of Bishopstoke, Rev Richard Wise, told the Daily Echo last night: "I'm extremely saddened to hear of the tragic death of Joe Spencer and I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

"I'm sure I speak for all the community in Bishopstoke too. We will be remembering him at our Remembrance services next week," added Mr Wise.

There will be a service at the village war memorial at Riverside at 11am on Friday November 11 and then church services on Sunday November 13.

L/Cpl Spencer, when aged 19, was the star recruit when he completed the Combat Infrantryman’s Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire in 2011. He received the prize for Best Rifleman at his passing out parade.

His platoon commander, Lieutenant Olie Little, told the Daily Echo at the time: “Rifleman Spencer embodies the ideal of a rifleman, showing initiative and intelligence combined with a robust physical performance and good shooting.

“He has shown potential beyond that of a recruit who has just completed training, so it is a well deserved prize.”

Earlier he was among eight recruits to swear his oath of allegiance at a ceremony at Southampton’s Civic Centre.

L/Cpl Spencer was a veteran of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.

The soldiers, aged between 16 and 32, were joined by friends and family for the event in the mayor’s parlour.

Thirty police officers are investigating the death on Tuesday at an outdoor range at Tain in northern Scotland.

They have confirmed that a firearms was involved in the death.