Media Release
6 October 2012

Dead Soldier Named

The NZ Defence Force can confirm that the soldier who died in the Linton Camp housing area yesterday was Private (PTE) Alexander Stewart Rope.

PTE Rope was 23 years old and was originally from Whanganui. He was a Rifleman currently posted to Signals Platoon, Support Company, 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR)

PTE Rope enlisted into the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army in August 2008, and was posted to 2/1 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) to complete his Combat Corps Training.

On qualifying from the Combat Corps Training he was then posted to 1 RNZIR, based at Linton Military Camp in April 2009.

He has also previously been posted to Victor Company.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PTE Rope at this difficult time,” Commander 1 (NZ) Brigade, Colonel (COL) Chris Parsons said.

“I’d like to thank the NZ Police for all their hard work with this operation. Although the outcome is not the one we had hoped for, everyone involved dealt with the situation in an extremely professional manner.”

The family of PTE Rope do not wish to comment at this time, and the NZ Defence Force asks that the media respect their privacy.
ENDS