3rd Battalion, the Rifles

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Rifleman Luke Farmer from 3rd Battalion, the Rifles was killed in Afghanistan on 15 January 2010.He was killed as a result of an IED explosion while on patrol near Sangin, in Helmand Province.

Rifleman Farmer was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire on 27 July 1990. He went to Minsthorpe Community College before joining the Army in 2008. He attended training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick from October 2008 to April 2009 before joining A Company 3 RIFLES in their pre-deployment training for Op HERRICK 11.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer 3 RIFLES BG said:
"Rifleman Luke Farmer was everything I could ask a Rifleman to be; fit, robust, capable, determined and loyal. His dedication served as an inspiration to his fellow Riflemen and his selfless commitment was an example to all.

Guardsman Christopher King
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Guardsman Christopher King, of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was killed in Afghanistan on 22nd July 2009, whilst serving on operations in the Nad e Ali District in Helmand Province.

He was serving as a rifleman with Number 2 Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. He was part of a Section of Coldstream Guardsmen who had been attached to the Welsh Guards since the end of last year, and who have been working with 2 Company throughout.

Obituaries published in The Times of London, February 2009

Bombardier Craig Hopson
40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners)

Bombardier Hopson was born on 11 March 1985 in Castleford, West Yorkshire and attended Castleford High Technology College before deciding that he wanted a career in the Army.

He joined 40th Regiment Royal Artillery (the Lowland Gunners) on 28 August 2002 after completion of his Basic Training at Pirbright and Phase 2 Training at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton
5th Regiment Royal Artillery

WO2 Upton was killed as a result of an explosion whilst conducting a foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand province. He was serving as second-in-command of Sangin's Police Mentoring Team.

WO2 Upton was born on 29th November 1973 in Nottinghamshire. He enlisted into the Army in June 1990. A career Royal Artillery weapon locator specialising in RADAR systems, he served operationally in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Bosnia, and previously in Afghanistan. He was a natural leader and intensely professional soldier who rose sharply through the ranks, quickly gaining trust from, and the confidence of, colleagues wherever he served.

25 February - MoD announces death of three soldiers in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence has announced the deaths of three soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles. They died from wounds sustained as a result of an enemy explosion during an escort operation in the Gereshk district, central Helmand Province, at approximately 0700 this morning (Wednesday 25 February 2009).

The Medical Emergency Response Team helicopter was called, but sadly the soldiers were all pronounced dead by the doctor in the helicopter.

Defence Viewpoints posts references to obituaries for former military personnel here on Viewpoints.

In addition to such public prominence, over recent years there has a steady (and, some would argue, long overdue) trickle of honours awarded to British heroes who have previously not been granted the recognition they richly deserve. Without the courage of many of these individuals, Britain could not have emerged victorious from World War Two, or played a strong role abroad in the years after.

The introduction of Veterans' Badges in 2004 provided a platform for granting recognition to those whose deeds may otherwise have slipped from memory. Initially reserved to veterans of UK armed forces of the First and Second World Wars, the scheme has since been extended, and now includes all those who have served in UK armed forces to date, with about 550,000 having been issued so far. (Declaration of interest : the Editor's mother has one!)

Trooper Phillip Lawrence
The Light Dragoons

Trooper Lawrence died in an explosion whilst travelling in a SCIMITAR, or CVR(T), vehicle, as part of a patrol in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province, while helping ensure the security of an area earlier cleared as part of Operation PANCHAI PALANG (Panther's Claw). He had volunteered to step in to drive for another Troop to fill a temporary manning gap when his vehicle was hit by an explosion, mortally wounding him.

Craftsman Anthony Lombardi
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Craftsman (Cfn) Lombardi was killed in Babaji, in the Lashkar Gar district of Helmand province. He was attached as a vehicle mechanic to Emsdorf Troop, a CVR(T) [Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)] group from The Light Dragoons serving with A Company, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters & Foresters) (2 MERCIAN).

Cfn Lombardi was driving a CVR(T) Spartan as part of an escort for a Viking supply convoy, moving between the company's two locations when the vehicle was hit by an explosion. The force of the explosion breached the hull, killing him instantly.

Three members of the Parachute Regiment believed to have been on special operations have been killed in Afghanistan. As a consequence their eulogies are somewhat truncated.

Corporal Kevin Mulligan, age 26

The Commanding Officer, Special Forces, said;

Corporal Kevin Mulligan was the epitome of a professional soldier; diligent, selfless, caring, with a profound sense of duty. A charismatic man with an irrepressible sense of humour, he was overwhelmingly popular and universally respected. An exceptional leader, he died how he led his life, at the forefront of his men.

Private Jason Williams
2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment

Private Williams was killed following an explosion while on patrol just east of Gereshk in Helmand province on Saturday afternoon.

On the day of his death, Private Williams' platoon was securing the site of an attack which had occurred earlier that day during which three Afghan National Army Warriors were killed.

Rifleman Daniel Wild
2ND BATTALION THE RIFLES

Killed in Action, near Forward Operating Base JACKSON, Sangin

Thursday 13th August 2009

Rifleman Daniel Wild was born on 18th July 1990 in Hartlepool. He joined the Army in 2007 conducting his phase one training at ATR Bassingbourne and completing his Phase 2 training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. He joined 2nd Battalion The Rifles in May 2008. Too young to deploy to Kosovo last summer, he seized the opportunity to deploy on exercise to Canada with 5 RIFLES instead. He excelled there despite his apparent lack of experience, receiving outstanding reports from

Lance Bombadier Matthew Hatton
40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners)

KILLED IN ACTION, NEAR FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, SANGIN

Thursday 13th August 2009

Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton was killed in action on Thursday the 13th of August 2009, when he was caught in an IED blast whilst on foot patrol as part of Op GHARTSE KERS 4, providing security for a pre-election shura in the Sangin area of Helmand province. He had suffered injury in an initial blast which had sadly killed Rifleman Wild and, whilst trying to clear an extraction route to the Helicopter Landing Site, was caught in a second blast in which he was fatally wounded.

Captain Mark Hale
The 2nd Battalion The Rifles

Killed in action 13th August 2009

Captain Mark Hale was born on 9th April 1967 in Bournemouth. He joined the Army in 1983, aged 16, as a Junior Leader and embarked on an exceptional career with the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment that took him on operations to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and then, with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, to Afghanistan. One of the outstanding soldiers of his generation, he found his calling in the Reconnaissance Platoon, where he spent much of his career. He promoted to Company Serjeant

Obituaries published in The Times of London, March 2009

Private Richard Hunt
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Private Richard Hunt from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh died at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Selly Oak on Saturday 15 August 2009 from wounds sustained in Helmand province two days previously.

Private Hunt was wounded as result of an explosion while on a vehicle patrol near Musa Qaleh in Helmand province on the morning of 13 August 2009.

Sergeant Simon Valentine
2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Sergeant Simon Valentine of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday 15 August 2009.

Sergeant Simon Valentine

Sergeant Valentine died as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion that happened while on a foot patrol near Sangin, northen Helmand province.

4th Battalion The Rifles

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Rifleman Peter Aldridge of 4th Battalion The Rifles, in Afghanistan on Friday 22 January 2010.
Rifleman Aldridge, 4th Battalion The Rifles

Rifleman Aldridge, a soldier from A Company 4 RIFLES, serving as part of 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed by an explosion near Sangin in Helmand Province. He was on a foot patrol, part of a larger operation to provide security for the local population in Sangin, when the explosion happened.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Jones, Commanding Officer 4 RIFLES, said
"Rifleman Peter Aldridge was just 19 – still very much a young man, but having gone to the Army's Foundation College in 2006, he had a great deal of experience despite his young age. Indeed he was one of the longer serving Riflemen in his platoon having joined their band almost 2 years ago.

Lance Corporal James Fullarton
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2 RRF)

Killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Lance Corporal James Fullarton, or 'Fully' to his mates, was born in Coventry in April 1985. He joined the Army in November 2003 and on successful completion of his infantry training at ITC Catterick, was posted to the Second Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Fusilier Simon Annis
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2 RRF)

Killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Born in Salford in 1987 Fusilier Simon Annis attended Culcheth High School, Warrington, until he had completed his GCSEs. After leaving school his desire to test himself saw him pursue a challenging and varied career when he joined his local Infantry Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers aged just 19.