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Operations

It is with very deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has to confirm the following fatalities suffered during operations:

Guardsman Anthony John Wakefield died during the early hours of 2 May 2005 as a result of wounds sustained during a routine patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq.

A British soldier was found dead in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station on 28 March 2005. An investigation is underway, and his death is not thought to have been the result of hostile action.

An RAF C-130K Hercules crashed 30 kilometres north-west of Baghdad on 30 January 2005 at approximately 1635 local time. The aircraft was on a flight between Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase. Ten UK Service personnel are missing believed killed; nine from the Royal Air Force and one from the Army. Their repatriation to RAF Lyneham commenced on the afternoon of 7 February, being flown out from Basrah with full honours.

The Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, said on 31 January 2005:

"It is with great regret that I can confirm that nine Royal Air Force personnel and one soldier are missing believed killed in yesterday's crash of an RAF C-130 Hercules in Iraq. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and all the Armed Forces, I should like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of these servicemen.

"The aircraft was on a flight between Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase when it crashed. UK and US forces have secured the crash site, and are now recovering the bodies, and attempting to ascertain the cause of the crash. We are aware of reports that the aircraft may have been shot down, but we are not in a position to come to any conclusions until the investigation is complete.

"The deaths of these Servicemen are especially poignant on a day when Iraqis were able to enjoy the freedom of democratic elections for the first time in many years.

"I can only echo the sentiment of the Prime Minister in recognising the sacrifice of these Servicemen."

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lyneham, paid a private visit to the station on 1 February to express her condolences to members of 47 Squadron and the Engineering Wing, and speak with personnel who are providing support to the bereaved families.

A British soldier was found dead from a gunshot wound at Shaibah Logistic Base on 26 December 2004. Hostile action is not thought to be responsible. The Royal Military Police investigation continues, but initial inquiries do not suggest suspicious circumstances.

A Royal Navy senior rate died, apparently from natural causes, aboard HMS Chatham on 17 December 2004 whilst on patrol in the Gulf. It should be noted that HMS Chatham was not assigned to Operation Telic at this time, although she was deployed on operational duty in the Gulf.

At 1830 local on 8 November 2004, a Warrior armoured vehicle from the Black Watch Battle Group was hit by a roadside bomb north of Camp Dogwood. The Warrior left the road, its wheels destroyed on one side, and one soldier was killed and two others injured - neither seriously. The injured men were taken by a US helicopter medevac team to a military hospital in Baghdad; and the damaged Warrior was subsequently recovered to Camp Dogwood.

Three British soldiers were killed, and others injured, in a suicide car-bomb attack on a vehicle check-point within the Black Watch area of operations on 4 November 2004. An Iraqi interpreter was also killed, and eight soldiers were wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel James Cowan, commanding the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, said at Camp Dogwood on 5 November:

"It is my sad duty to report the death of three of my soldiers. At 1300 on 4 November, a patrol from D Company, the 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) was conducting a Vehicle Check Point in an area east of the Euphrates. At this time, a suicide bomber drove his vehicle at the soldiers, detonating the device. The troops then came under sustained mortar fire. Three soldiers and one civilian interpreter were killed, and eight soldiers wounded. Sergeant Stuart Gray, Private Paul Lowe, and Private Scott McArdle were all killed instantly, as was the patrol's interpreter, whose name cannot be released for security reasons.

"For a close-knit family such as the Black Watch, this is indeed a painful blow. All three of the soldiers were our friends, but as we mourn their deaths, so we remember their lives and give thanks to their contribution to the life of our Regiment. The interpreter had been with the Black Watch since our arrival in Iraq, and had become a friend to the soldiers. He had volunteered to come north with us, and had delayed his wedding, which was to have taken place on the day of his death. Stuart Gray was a Sergeant of great experience in the Mortar Platoon; Paul Lowe was a talented drummer in the Pipes and Drums; and Scott McArdle was a rifleman in the elite Reconnaissance Platoon. We will miss them as brothers-in-arms, and extend our sympathy and love to their families. The whole of the Black Watch is saddened by this loss. But while we fell this blow most keenly, we will not be deterred from seeing our task through to a successful conclusion."

Major Lindsay MacDuff, the Officer Commanding the Battalion's Rear Party at Warminster, said on 5 November:

"The Black Watch has always been a close-knit family, and the news that three of our soldiers were tragically killed while serving in Iraq is keenly felt by all ranks and their families. All are left saddened by the news that we have lost three friends.

"The men of the Black Watch are determined to continue with their operational tasks in Iraq. In the words from a key passage of the Regimental Collect, "We of the Black Watch will stand fast in the faith and be strong" at this time, both here with the families, and with the men on operations.

"The Army and the Black Watch have a robust and coordinated welfare structure that is designed to meet the needs of those affected by the incident yesterday. We would ask the media to keep their distance and give us a chance to grieve and come to terms with our loss at what is a difficult time."

A British soldier was found dead at a military base in Basrah on the morning of 31 October 2004. The investigation into the death is ongoing, but it is not believed to be the result of any hostile act.

A soldier from The Black Watch died, and a further three suffered minor injuries and shock, in a road traffic accident in North Babil province on 29 October 2004.

Two British soldiers died following the ambush of a military convoy south-west of Basrah on 28 September 2004. An armoured Land Rover was badly damaged, and as troops sought to extract the casualties, they came under small arms fire.

A British soldier died in a road traffic accident near Al Amarah on 10 September 2004.

A British soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with insurgents in Basrah on 17 August 2004.

A British soldier was killed and another seriously injured by an improvised explosive device attack in Basrah on 12 August 2004.

A soldier was killed, and several others were injured, in an attack on British vehicles in Basrah on 9 August 2004.

A British soldier was killed in an accident at Al Amarah on 4 August 2004.

A British airman was killed when an RAF Puma helicopter suffered an accident at Basrah International Airport on 19 July 2004.

A British soldier was killed, and two injured, in an improvised explosive device attack on British vehicles in Basrah on the morning of 28 June 2004.

A British soldier was fatally injured in a vehicle accident at Shaibah Logistics Base on the morning of 12 February 2004.

A soldier died in a tragic accident in Basrah on 31 January 2004.

A British soldier was killed, and another injured, in a road traffic accident at Al Amarah on 21 January 2004.

A British Serviceman died following a tragic incident on a training range near Basrah on the morning of 7 January 2004.

Two British soldiers were killed in a road traffic accident in Baghdad early on 1 January 2004.

A British Serviceman was killed in a road traffic accident in Basrah on 6 November.

A Royal Marines NCO was killed by hostile fire during an operation on 31 October.

A Territorial Army soldier died in a tragic incident on 23 September whilst serving at Shaibah near Basrah.

A British soldier was killed and another wounded in an incident in Ali As Sharqi in southern Iraq on 27 August 2003.

Three soldiers from the Royal Military Police were killed, and one seriously wounded, during an incident in central Basrah on the morning of 23 August.

The senior RMP officer serving in Basrah, Lieutenant Colonel Bill Warren, said:

"I am deeply saddened by this tragic event. My thoughts, and those of the men and women of the Royal Military Police, are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. I hope that they will be given the space to grieve.

"These soldiers have been a credit to the RMP and have made a significant contribution to the rebuilding of the local police force in the region. This incident will not deter us from our mission and we will continue to work closely with our Iraqi colleagues to seek out those responsible for this criminal act and bring them to justice."

Brigadier Maurice Nugent, the Provost Marshal for the British Army and professional head of the Royal Military Police, said on 24 August:

"The impact of yesterday's tragedy in Basrah, where three men of the Royal Military Police were killed, is only now beginning to be felt. The thoughts of all past and present members of the Royal Military Police are with the families. All three soldiers had young families and we will be there for them over the coming days and weeks. The RMP are one of the key players in the efforts to reform and resurrect the civil police in Iraq, and I am proud of the role played in this by Corporal Dewi Pritchard, from 116 Provost Company, West Bromwich, and Warrant Officer Colin Wall and Major Matthew Titchener, who were both from 150 Provost Company in Catterick. This essential work will continue beyond this tragedy."

A British serviceman was killed, and two wounded, during a bomb attack on a military ambulance in Basrah on 14 August.

A Territorial Army soldier died on 13 August in southern Iraq. The cause of his death is under investigation but was not the result of hostile action.

An Army officer collapsed and died on 18 July in southern Iraq.

Six Royal Military Policemen were killed in an incident at Al Majar Al Kabir on 24 June. The Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon MP, updated the House of Commons on 2 July on the information available concerning this incident, and another in the same area which resulted in Service personnel sustaining wounds.

The six Royal Military Policemen who died were:

The commanding officer of 156 Provost Company, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, said:

The loss of six soldiers from such a small, tight-knit unit as 156 Provost Company clearly comes as a dreadful shock to us all, not only the friends and families of those killed, but also all those in the Royal Military Police who knew and worked with them.

All these men were highly professional Soldiers and Policemen. Their deaths in action underlines the challenging and difficult operations that the RMP are asked to undertake both in peace and times of conflict.

From the oldest, aged 41, to the youngest, aged 20, these soldiers had between them a wealth of operational experience and distinguished service. You will understand that the circumstances surrounding this dreadful incident are still being investigated. At this time, our priority is giving all the support we can to the families and friends who are having to cope with the loss of loved ones.

We ask our men and women to risk the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country, and it is the sad truth that sometimes that sacrifice comes to pass.

All six soldiers were extremely popular and well liked within the unit and they will be sadly missed by all of us.

A civilian member of the Defence Fire Service died in hospital in the UK on 22 May, having fallen ill in the Gulf.

An RAF Policeman died in Kuwait on 19 May, believed to be from natural causes.

An RAF Regiment Gunner died in hospital in the UK on 8 May, following injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Iraq.

A soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, died in an accident in Iraq on 6 May.

A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Iraq on 30 April.

A soldier was killed in action in Basrah on 6 April.

In a separate incident, two other soldiers were killed in action in Basrah later the same day.

A soldier was killed in an accident involving a light armoured vehicle on 1 April. An officer died in hospital in the UK on 22 April from injuries sustained in the accident.

A soldier was killed in southern Iraq on 31 March during an explosive ordnance disposal operation.

A soldier was killed in a road traffic accident in Kuwait on 30 March.

A Royal Marine was killed in action during fighting in the area of Basrah on 30 March.

On 30 March, a Royal Marine officer died of natural causes.

A British soldier was killed in an incident involving light armoured vehicles of D Squadron, The Blues & Royals, on 28 March. Four others were injured. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.

The soldier killed was:

On 25 March, two soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers were killed when their Challenger 2 tank was accidentally hit by another Challenger 2 during a period of multiple engagements with Iraqi enemy forces. The two men have been named as:

On 24 March, a soldier from 1st Battalion The Black Watch was killed in action near Al Zubayr.

A soldier was killed in action near Az Zubayr near Basrah on 24 March.
 

Two British soldiers were reported missing, later confirmed as killed, after an attack on British military vehicles in southern Iraq on 23 March.

On 23 March, an RAF GR4 Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham, which was returning from an operational mission, was engaged near the Kuwaiti border by a Patriot missile battery. Both aircrew were killed.

The Military Aircraft Accident Summary reporting the investigation of this fatal incident was published on 14 May 2004. Click here for a direct link to the MAAS report.

At around 0130 GMT on 22 March, two Royal Navy Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Early Warning helicopters collided over the northern Arabian Gulf. There were no survivors from the six British and one US crew members aboard. The incident was not the result of enemy action.

The Commanding Officer of 849 Squadron asked for this letter to be published in response to all the messages of condolence received:

The early hours of 22 March 2003 marked a sad day in the proud history of 849 Naval Air Squadron. Two Sea King Mk 7 helicopters of 849 A Flight collided over the North Arabian Gulf, whilst conducting missions in support of coalition forces, with the loss of all seven crewmembers. As one can imagine, this tragic event has shocked and devastated everyone, not only the friends and loved ones of those involved but also of those associated in anyway with 849 Naval Air Squadron, the wider Fleet Air Arm community, and beyond.

Messages of condolence, support and sympathy began arriving early Saturday morning. Since then, Culdrose and 849 Squadron have been overwhelmed by the flow of tributes that continue to arrive. These have come from all quarters and include those close to fallen comrades, fellow aviators, members of the armed forces and from the general public. The strength and understanding that these messages convey cannot be underestimated; they have been, and continue to be, of enormous support not only to the friends and family of those involved, but to those still serving on A Flight and the 849 community as a whole. It will take time to respond personally to all the tributes, but be assured that all those associated with 849 Naval Air Squadron are eternally grateful and will draw great strength from them in the coming weeks and months.

Despite such horrendous losses, 849 A Flight remain in theatre and continue to execute vital missions in support of Gulf operations. The 'Eyes of the Fleet' may have dimmed briefly but they remain open, alert and ever vigilant. Finally, to our fallen comrades from 849 A Flight we say: Rest in peace in the knowledge that your professionalism, dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never go unrecognised or be forgotten.

At around midnight GMT on 21 March, a US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border with US and UK personnel aboard; there were no survivors. Eight personnel from 3 Commando Brigade died in the accident, along with four US aircrew.

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