Rarely a month goes by without a damning inquest verdict from Andrew Walker, highlighting failures by the Ministry of Defence.

As assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, Mr Walker presides over inquests into military deaths overseas, which fall under his jurisdiction because bodies are flown into the RAF base at Brize Norton. He has become a champion for the cause of grieving and frustrated relatives of those who have died while serving their country.

Mr Walker, 40, took the unusual step of calling Geoff Hoon, the former Defence Secretary, to give evidence at one hearing. Mr Hoon, who was abroad, sent a representative.

While investigating the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, killed in a so-called “friendly fire” incident involving an American A10 plane, he rounded on the US authorities for their lack of cooperation before concluding that the death was unlawful. Delivering his verdict on the death of Parachute Regiment Captain James Philippson, 29, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he condemned the MoD for allowing the soldier to be “totally outgunned”.

This year it was announced that his contract as assistant deputy coroner would not be renewed.

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