Death of Daniel Gunther

Corporal Daniel Gunther (January 13, 1969 – June 18, 1993) was a Canadian soldier serving with the Royal 22e Régiment as part of the UN Protection Force in Bosnia.

[2] Canadian soldiers committed abusive behaviour, including racism, torture and murder in Somalia in March 1993 (two months prior to Gunther's killing in Bosnia).

[2] The scandals contributed to increased debate about Canada's management of its armed forces, public accountability and participation in active war zones such as Bosnia.

[5][6] About a month after being assigned to Bosnia, Gunther was driving a UN-marked M113 armored personnel carrier (APC) in Buci, a village with high tension between Muslims and Croats that was about 20 kilometres northwest of Sarajevo on June 18, 1993.

Immediately following his death, an incident report stating that he was the victim of a "deliberate attack by an anti-tank rocket" was sent to the National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa.

The military's initial position was that Gunther was likely killed unintentionally by shrapnel from a distant mortar and that, as a new peacekeeper, he may have exposed himself by being outside the protection of his vehicle.

[14] The military's press release that evening read, "Corporal Daniel Gunther ... was killed today when a mortar bomb fell close to his vehicle."

[15] Esprit de Corps subsequently published a number of critical articles about the issue in the magazine and in books co-authored by Taylor.

[15] After the hostile nature of Gunther's killing became a controversy, some questioned whether Kim Campbell's campaign was a factor in downplaying the facts about his death.

The army commander, Lieutenant-General Baril, later admitted that Gunther had been given insufficient time to prepare for his tour but, without a signature, the policy stood at $100,000.

[16] Instead of providing in person the Silver Cross, an award given to families of all service personnel killed overseas, the military sent it to Gunther's mother by mail and it was tarnished, not new.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Maurice Baril, also presented the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal to his widow, son, father and grandfather.