James Le Mesurier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Le Mesurier
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|
|---|---|
| Born |
James Gustaf Edward Le Mesurier
25 May 1971 |
| Died | 11 November 2019 (aged 48) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Army officer, security consultant |
| Known for | Co-founding the White Helmets (Syria) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1990–2000 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Royal Green Jackets |
James Gustaf Edward Le Mesurier (25 May 1971 – 11 November 2019) was a British officer and security expert. He is best known for helping to create the White Helmets. This group of volunteers works to protect civilians during the Syrian Civil War.
Le Mesurier was a former British Army officer. He also worked with the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the former Yugoslavia. He led a non-profit group called the Mayday Rescue Foundation. This organization helped train and support the White Helmets. Le Mesurier died in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2019.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Le Mesurier was born on May 25, 1971, in RAF Changi, Singapore. His father was a British Royal Marine, and his mother was Swedish. He had one older sister.
He went to Canford School and later studied at Ulster University. He finished his degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies at Aberystwyth University.
Military Service and Peacekeeping Work
Joining the British Army
In 1990, Le Mesurier joined the Royal Green Jackets in the British Army. The army helped pay for his university studies. He then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was a top student there and won the Queen's Medal award.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1993. By 1996, he became a captain.
Service in Conflict Zones
Le Mesurier served in Northern Ireland. He also worked as an infantry training instructor. Later, he returned to the Royal Green Jackets as an intelligence officer. He served in Bosnia and Kosovo.
In 1999, he worked with the Office of the High Representative in the former Yugoslavia. He saw the terrible things that happened during the Kosovo War. This experience deeply affected him. He left the military in 2000.
Working for Peace and Security
After the army, Le Mesurier became a policy advisor for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. He then worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 2002 to 2004, he monitored Palestinian prisoners. He also advised the Embassy of the United States, Baghdad.
Supporting Global Security
Private Security Roles
From 2005 to 2007, Le Mesurier worked for the Olive Group. This was a British security company. He then joined Good Harbor Consulting from 2008 to 2012. Here, he became an expert in urban security.
His work included training oil and gas field protection forces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He also helped design security for Abu Dhabi. He even worked on safety for the 2010 Arabian Gulf Cup in Yemen.
Training Civil Defence Teams
From 2012 to 2014, Le Mesurier worked for ARK, a UAE consulting firm. ARK aimed to help people in areas affected by conflict. In 2013, ARK began training Syrian civil defence teams in Turkey. This project was funded by the UK, US, and Japanese governments. Le Mesurier managed this important work.
Work with the White Helmets
Founding and Mission
Le Mesurier wanted to focus on helping people in conflict zones. In 2014, he founded and directed the charity Mayday Rescue. This organization trained and supported Syrian volunteers. These volunteers became known as the White Helmets.
The White Helmets are a volunteer group in Syria. They respond to emergencies, especially after bombings. They search for and rescue people from damaged buildings. They also provide medical help. By 2015, the White Helmets had over 2,700 volunteers. Le Mesurier said they had saved more than 24,000 lives by that time.
Commitment to Neutrality
Le Mesurier helped create a code of conduct for the volunteers. This code required them to be neutral. They could not be connected to any armed groups. Volunteers who showed support for fighters were removed.
Le Mesurier explained that the White Helmets saved lives no matter who the person was. He said they even rescued soldiers from the Syrian government. For them, saving a life was the most important thing.
Recognition and Support
In 2016, Le Mesurier received an OBE. This award was for his work with the Syria Civil Defence and for protecting civilians in Syria.
In 2018, the UK agreed to offer safety to some White Helmets members and their families. This happened after Le Mesurier asked for their help. The UK government noted that the White Helmets had saved over 115,000 lives during the Syrian conflict.
Facing False Claims
Le Mesurier and the White Helmets faced many false claims. Some people, including Russian media, said he was a spy. They also claimed the White Helmets were trying to change the government in Syria. These claims started around 2015. They increased when Syrian and Russian forces attacked Aleppo. The White Helmets recorded these attacks, which included hospitals.
A week before Le Mesurier died, a Russian official made more false accusations against him. The UK denied these claims. They said Le Mesurier was a "true hero" and a British soldier. Le Mesurier himself said that risking your life to save others goes against radical ideas. He believed the White Helmets represented the "average, good Syrian."
Personal Life
James Le Mesurier was married three times. He had two daughters from his second marriage. In 2018, he married Emma Winberg. She also worked with Mayday Rescue.
Death
On November 11, 2019, James Le Mesurier was found dead in Istanbul, Turkey. It appeared he had fallen from his balcony. He had injuries to his head and legs. His wife said they had taken sleeping pills before bed.
His body was returned to London. Turkish authorities continued their investigation. A month later, they confirmed his injuries were from a fall. No other person's DNA was found. A report also showed sleeping pills in his body. This matched his wife's statement.
