Samisoni Nabilivalu Wednesday, January 26, 2011 RELATIVES and friends converged at the Commonwealth War Cemetery yesterday to pay their last respects to Private Joseva Saqanagonedau Vatubua. Also present at the burial were representatives from the British Army and the British High Commission in Fiji. After a short service at the Vatuwaqa Methodist Church, the funeral procession made its way to the Commonwealth War Cemetery where Pte Vatubua was laid to rest. A bearer party from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, or Five Scots as they are commonly known, was present to accord Pte Vatubua a full military burial with honours. His Company Sergeant Major Scott Clark and other members of the party, who were there as representatives of their regiment, presented Mrs Vatubua with the Battalion's Wreath, Pte Vatubua's medals, his head-dress, and white belt to the mournful sound of bagpipes. Pte Vatubua's wife Claudette Vatubua and his nephew Ross Qiokata lingered at the side of his grave long after others had left and could not hold back their tears as they bid a final farewell to "Jo" as he was known to family members. CSM Clark said Pte Vatubua was a respected soldier who was known as a dedicated worker and a humble man and was admired for his commitment to his duty and added he had left behind a vacuum in his company that would be hard to replace. "It is a sad loss to the army and also to the family and we share our sympathy with his wife, Claudette, and to Jo's loved ones. We will miss him," said CSM Clark. Family, friends farewell soldier - Fiji Times Online
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Private Martin Bell killed in Afghanistan The 350th British casualty.
From down the road and a ex Copper too. He's death has been well covered on the local news up here. I suspect he may get a gong.
Saw the lads coming back tonight on the A420 near Shrivenham about 19.00 hrs. BBC News - Five soldiers' bodies flown into RAF Lyneham Daft time to do it. All the well wishers in the lay-bys & road verges were in the dark. All we could see of the cortege were the blue flashing lights.
Saw the lads coming back tonight on the A420 near Shrivenham about 19.00 hrs. BBC News - Five soldiers' bodies flown into RAF Lyneham Daft time to do it. All the well wishers in the lay-bys & road verges were in the dark. All we could see of the cortege were the blue flashing lights. I suspect when they are planning the whole repatriation process they don't take them into consideration mate.
Without wishing to detract from anyone's feeling of the need to pay respect, twould be better the cortege hadn't needed to be seen at all. However, I suspect even on these repatriation flights the RAF has to run to some kind of schedule. I had mixed feelings about Wootten Bassett, but I think it is in shows great spirit that there are plenty of people out there who do know, and show, respect for those who serve.
BBC News - RIR soldier to be buried alongside baby daughter RIR soldier to be buried alongside baby daughter L/Cpl McKee was working to disrupt insurgents when he died The family of a Royal Irish Regiment soldier killed in Afghanistan have said he will be reunited in death with his baby daughter. Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, 27, died when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Helmand province last week. His younger brother who was serving alongside him was one of the first to arrive on the scene. As his body arrived at RAF Lyneham on Thursday, his family said he would be laid to rest beside his baby daughter. Keeley died a year ago. The McKee family are in Wootton Bassett for a repatriation ceremony on Thursday afternoon. In a statement, his parents, from Banbridge, said they were very proud of all he had achieved. "He was a wonderful and loving husband to Carley and an amazing brother," they said. "Above all that, Stephen was a soldier and we, as a family, take great comfort from the fact he died doing a job he loved." The McKees said that their son and his wife had lost their baby daughter "in the most tragic of circumstances". "Stephen will now be reunited with his little girl when he is laid to rest beside her in Banbridge." The dead soldier's brothers, father-in-law and cousin have all served with the Royal Irish Regiment. L/Cpl McKee joined 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment as a part-time soldier in 2003. When the Home Service was disbanded he decided to transfer to 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment and he joined them at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton in Shropshire, in April 2007. Lt Col Colin Weir, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, said his death had "sent a wave of shock and sadness through this battlegroup". Funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed. BBC News - Banbridge soldier L/Cpl Stephen McKee tributes paid Tributes have been paid to a Royal Irish Regiment soldier from Banbridge who was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday. L/Cpl Stephen McKee, 27, was taking part in an operation in Helmand province when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb. His wife Carley said he was a hero and the best husband anyone could have. The Ministry of Defence said he was a "fine soldier, trustworthy and courageous". Tributes have also been paid by NI First Minister Peter Robinson, Danny Kennedy MLA, who is a friend of the McKee family and the Orange Order, of which L/Cpl McKee was a member. As well as his wife, he leaves behind parents Heather and Bobby, brothers Michael, Gareth and Robert and sisters Kelly and Rebecca. His two-day-old daughter passed away last year. The dead soldier's brothers, father-in-law and cousin have all served with the Royal Irish Regiment. One brother is understood to have been involved in a similar attack in Afghanistan in recent weeks. The MOD statement said L/Cpl McKee "always had time for everyone". "He was a family man and showed enormous strength, particularly during a very difficult time last year when his two-day-old daughter passed away," it said. His wife, Carley McKee, said: "You will always be my hero and every step I take in life, i will have my two angels looking after me. "You truly are the best husband, father, son and brother anyone could ask for. "Till we meet again. Love you always." Mr Kennedy said the family's history of service was proud. He added: "This tragedy, resulting from a cowardly attack by the Taliban, sadly mirrors the same fate which befell Stephen's uncle Richard, a member of the UDR, who was murdered by the IRA during the Troubles." L/Cpl McKee joined 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment as a part-time soldier in 2003. When the Home Service were disbanded he decided to transfer to 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment and he joined them at Tern Hill in April 2007. He was posted to B Company, where he served with distinction for three years before moving to the Machine Gun Platoon in D Company in 2010. He first deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 8 in March 2008. Lt Col Colin Weir, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, said his death had "sent a wave of shock and sadness through this battlegroup". He said: "Stephen McKee was the finest of men; he was irrepressible, he was utterly reliable and he was a fearsome warrior."
BBC News - UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan Two soldiers from 1st Battalion Irish Guards have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, six days before they were due to return to the UK.
BBC News - UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan Two soldiers from 1st Battalion Irish Guards have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, six days before they were due to return to the UK. They have now been named. Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Major Matthew James Collins and Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan killed in Afghanistan It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Major Matthew James Collins and Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan, both from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 23 March 2011.
Repatriation of Service personnel - The Royal British Legion 28 March 2011 The repatriation of two soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan will take place on Wednesday 30 March, with the cortege passing through Royal Wootton Bassett between 1.30 and 2.30pm. NB: This is a change of date, there is no repatriation on Tuesday 29 March. Major Matthew James Collins, 38 of Backwell in Somerset and Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan, 28 of Liverpool, both from 1st Battalion Irish Guards, died on Wednesday 23 March 2011. QS
BBC News - Female UK soldier dies in hospital after Afghan blast Capt Head served in Iraq and Afghanistan A female UK soldier has died in hospital from injuries suffered in an explosion while clearing roadside bombs in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Capt Lisa Jade Head, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, died at Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital, Birmingham, on Tuesday. The 29-year-old, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, had been injured on Monday.
I read positive comments on "Dead men risen:The Welsh Guards and the real story of Britain's War in Afghanistan" (by Toby Harnden) . Do the members agree ? Is it worth to spend my money ? And,is his description of the Bowman helicopters "better off with map and nokia" a fair one ?
"Lieutenant Oliver Richard Augustin and Marine Samuel Giles William Alexander MC, both from Juliet Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, were killed by an improvised explosive device whilst on patrol in the Loy Mandeh area of the Nad 'Ali district in Helmand province on Friday, 27 May 2011." The funeral of Lt Augustin takes place tomorrow in St. Martin's Church in the village of Eynsford, Kent, where I live. Sadly, this is the 2nd service we have had here in under a year. Lt Oliver Augustin & Marine Samuel Alexander We shall remember him and Marine Alexander.
I read positive comments on "Dead men risen:The Welsh Guards and the real story of Britain's War in Afghanistan" (by Toby Harnden) . Do the members agree ? Is it worth to spend my money ? And,is his description of the Bowman helicopters "better off with map and nokia" a fair one ? I mentioned it here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/postwar/34357-dead-men-risen-book-welsh-guards-afghanistan.html
385 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10629358\ British dead and wounded in Afghanistan, month by month | News | guardian.co.uk http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=66560&stc=1&d=1321016227
Difficult to read without tears blurring the screen. This could have been a last letter home from WW1. RIP Cyrus Thatcher.
BBC News - UK soldier killed in Afghanistan A British soldier has been killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced. The serviceman, from 5th Battalion The Rifles, was on a foot patrol in the Babaji area of Helmand province's Nahr-e Saraj district. Task Force Helmand spokesman Lt Col Gordon Mackenzie said prayers were with his family, who have been informed. The death takes the number of British troops killed since operations began in the country in 2001 to 390. Col Mackenzie said the soldier was serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) and was a member of an International Security Assistance Force patrol. "I have the sad duty to inform you that a soldier from the 5th Battalion The Rifles was killed earlier today after an explosion while on a foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activity," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time."
Just read the letter it made my tears flow, it's always at the back of my mind, as my son is going to join the RAF Police. RIP Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher
