ANOTHER young soldier has been found dead at Europe's biggest Army base - the 14th since 1997.

The body of 24-year-old trainee guardsman Andrew Brown was discovered with a gunshot wound at his dormitory in Vimy barracks, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on Monday evening.

Although his identity had not been confirmed last night, sources confirmed to The Northern Echo that the victim was Private Brown, a father-of-two, from Oxford.

Pte Brown, originally from Ireland, was assigned to the Coldstream Guards. He was engaged to be married and had two children aged three and five.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, said his mother had been informed of the death and when his family contacted the Army barracks they were told it was suicide.

She said: "Andrew's sister is pushing for an inquiry and his fiancee is in shock.

"The Army would not tell us if it is was being investigated."

North Yorkshire Police last night confirmed they were in charge of the investigation into the death after it was reported to them at 4.45pm on Monday.

The Northern Echo understands Mr Brown suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Mr Brown is the seventh soldier to be found dead from gunshot wounds at the base since 1997.

An investigation by The Northern Echo, prompted by by grieving relatives, also discovered that seven Catterick soldiers had died as a result of hanging over the same period.

Lynn Farr, whose son Daniel died at the base in 1997, has been calling for a public inquiry into deaths at the garrison.

She said: "I am just horrified, I feel sick. For years I have been saying something needs to be done but it keeps on happening."

A spokesman for Catterick Garrison would not comment on the allegation the family had been informed it was suicide.

He said: "It is now a police investigation."