1ST BATTALION THE ROYAL GHURKA RIFLES

Major Josh Bowman was 34 years old and from Salisbury. He started his career in the British Army as a rifle platoon commander in B Company 1st Battalion The Light Infantry having commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1999.

As a rifle platoon commander he deployed to Northern Ireland as part of the Rural Reinforcement Battalion.
In Northern Ireland he operated from an isolated patrol base and for his outstanding performance throughout this tour he was awarded a General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland commendation.

Following rifle platoon command he was posted as an instructor to the 3rd Battalion Infantry Training Centre in Catterick.

He then returned to regimental duty in Paderborn, Germany, in the Armoured Infantry role as the Second in Command of D Company 1 Light Infantry.

40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES

Marine Matthew Harrison was born on 14 July 1986. He had three brothers, David, Steven and James, and lived in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

He joined the Royal Marines on 16 February 2009, aged 22. Impressing from the outset, Mne Harrison was awarded a diamond in recognition of being one of the top recruits.

Passing for duty as a Royal Marines Commando on 30 October 2009, he was awarded the King's Badge. The King's Badge is awarded to the best all-round recruit of the most senior Recruit Troop in training, only if he is worthy of the award.

On completion of training he joined 40 Commando Royal Marines (40 Cdo RM), based at Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton. Joining Charlie Company in November 2009, Mne Harrison immediately conducted Mission Specific Training for Operation HERRICK 12. In April 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan and was based at Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam.

40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES

Marine Jonathan David Thomas Crookes, from Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in the Sangin District of Helmand Province on Friday 16 July 2010.

Marine Jonathan David Thomas Crookes was born in Birmingham and lived with his mother and fiancée, Danielle in Halesowen, West Midlands. He was 26 years old, and was a younger brother to Robert and Jane.

He joined the Royal Marines Reserve, Birmingham Detachment, in September 2005 passing for duty as a Royal Marines Commando in November 2006. He was awarded the Commando Dagger for the best all round recruit in training. Outside of the Royal Marines he was studying for a degree in International Relations and worked as a Tree Surgeon and Labourer.

Volunteering for an operational tour to Afghanistan, he was drafted to 40 Commando Royal Marines in May 2007. Shortly after, he deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, on Op HERRICK 7. In September 2009 he was once again mobilised to join 40 Commando Royal Marines for deployment to Afghanistan.

THE ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS

Sergeant David Thomas Monkhouse, from the Royal Dragoon Guards, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), was killed in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province on Saturday 17th July 2010.

Sergeant David Thomas Monkhouse, known as Bob to everyone in the Regiment, was 35 years old. He was born in 1974 in Carlisle and raised in his home town of Aspatria. He attended Beacon Hill Secondary School and on leaving school at 16 he joined the Junior Leaders' Regiment in Bovington.

On 31 July 1992, he joined The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards as a Chieftan Gunner, shortly before it was amalgamated into The Royal Dragoon Guards.

Throughout his colourful career he served on four tours in Northern Ireland and in Iraq in 2007. He qualified as a Regimental Combat Medical Technician Class 1. He has been the stalwart of the Regimental Medical Centre, providing enthusiasm and initiative in keeping the Regiment medically fit.

On Saturday 17 July 2010, the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) was conducting a patrol to reduce the intimidation of the local population. At 0445hrs Sergeant Monkhouse was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and killed in action.

THE RAF REGIMENT

Senior Aircraftman Kinikki 'Griff' Griffiths from the RAF Regiment, serving as part of the Camp Bastion Force Protection Wing, was killed in a vehicle accident in the vicinity of Camp Bastion, Helmand Province on Friday 16 July 2010.

Senior Aircraftman Kinikki "Griff" Griffiths was born on 12 August 1989 and was soon to celebrate his twenty-first birthday. He joined the Royal Air Force on 15 February 2009 as a Gunner in the Royal Air Force Regiment and in July, on completion of training and passing out as "Best Shot", he was posted to Number 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, where he flourished earning the respect of his colleagues and peers alike.

Kinikki was selected as his flight commander's signaller and driver and it was whilst carrying out these duties that he met his untimely death.

11 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL REGIMENT, THE ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS

Staff Sergeant Brett George Linley was 29 years old and from Birmingham. He enlisted into the Royal Logistics Corps in March 2001 and qualified as an Ammunition Technician in September 2002.

Over the next eight years, Staff Sergeant Linley trained for several Counter-IED roles and most recently in March 2010, qualified as a High Threat IEDD Operator. Over this time he perfected his bomb disposal skills whilst deployed on three separate tours of duty in Northern Ireland, working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He also deployed in the Ammunition Technician role to the Falklands Islands and Canada.

In late March 2010, Staff Sergeant Linley deployed with his IEDD team on Operation HERRICK to Afghanistan and conducted dozens of IED clearances across Helmand province.

On 17 July 2010, Staff Sergeant Linley and his team were working in support of Combined Force Nahr-e-Saraj (South) to clear IEDs from a major route when sadly he died following an IED explosion. The security of this route is vital to the freedom of manoeuvre, and as such, is a major priority in that area.

Sapper Mark Antony Smith was 26 years old and from Swanley, Kent. He enlisted into the Corps of Royal Engineers in June 2001 and, following training as a Combat Engineer and trade training as a Communications and Information Systems Operator, he was posted to 36 Engineer Regiment in December 2002. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 and deployed on his first tour to Afghanistan in 2007. In April 2010 he volunteered for a second tour to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 12 having successfully completed the Royal Engineer Search Course. Sapper Smith was a member of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, part of the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force. His role was as a Searcher in a Royal Engineer Search Team.

Corporal Matthew James Stenton was 23 years old. He was born and raised in Wakefield, where he went to Wakefield Cathedral High School. On leaving school he joined the Army and attended the Army Training Regiment (Harrogate). On completion of Phase 2 training in May 2004, he joined The Royal Dragoon Guards.

On arrival at the Regiment, he successfully completed Mission Specific Training before deploying to Iraq with the Regimental Battlegroup on Operation TELIC 5. This was followed by a move to Reconnaissance Troop and deployment on Operation TELIC 11. He later passed his Challenger 2 MBT Crew Commanders’ course, and then deployed with the Viking Group to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 12 as a Viking Commander with D (The Green Horse) Squadron.

Lance Corporal Stephen Daniel Monkhouse was born in Greenock, Scotland, and lived with his mother, Linda Watt, in his town of birth.  He was 28 years old, was a father to Brandon and an older brother to Allan, Ashleigh and Stacey. He began his Army training in December 2003 and subsequently joined the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Germany in 2004.  

He immediately deployed as a Warrior Driver in Right Flank to Iraq on Operation TELIC 5.  It was during his time with Right Flank that he developed a reputation as an immensely fit and robust infantry soldier.  After a brief spell with B (Support Weapons) Company as a Mortarman, he decided to join the Pipes and Drums despite having, by his own admission, no musical knowledge.  He passed his Class 3 Drummers Course in 2007 and his Class 2 Drummers Course in 2008, both at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, and with flying colours.

Having passed a Junior Non Commissioned Officers’ Cadre he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in March 2009.  He remained in the Pipes and Drums and regularly represented the Regiment and Battalion at musical events.  These events included Pipe Band tours of Moscow in 2007, USA in 2009 and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2006 and 2009. He was also a key member of the Battalion’s football team. His unflinching and passionate support for Celtic Football Club could never be dampened.