British Army Paratrooper Repatriated
14th December 2010
The body of a British Army paratrooper killed in an apparent friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan was repatriated through Lyneham village this evening. New Zealander Private John "Jack" Howard died while on patrol in Helmand Province on December 5.

Private Howard, 23, from the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was serving with 16 Air Assault Brigade's Reconnaissance Force on his second tour in Afghanistan. He was on a patrol six miles south-west of the provincial capital of Helmand Province, Laskar Gah, when he was fatally wounded. Initial reports suggested he could have been hit by cannon fire from a low-flying US plane, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The MoD has launched a full investigation into the incident, which military experts suggested could have been a case of "misidentification".

Private Howard's body was flown direct into RAF Lyneham at 2pm, as low cloud and poor weather conditions prevented the traditional flypast, attributed to all the fallen heroes, to be caaried out and returned to UK soil. After a private ceremony on station, the cortege was escorted through the village in the winter darkness as many residents, veterans and business people saluted the union flag drapped coffin of Private Howard lit by internal lights in the hearse. The cortege was being escorted by Wiltshire Police and MoD Police on its final journey through neighbouring market town of Wootton Bassett onward to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Private Howard, from Wellington, leaves behind his parents Roger and Anne, two sisters Charlotte and Isabella, and his girlfriend Sophie. The "devastated" family said he was "immensely proud to be both a Para and a New Zealander" and was "absolutely passionate about what he was doing".

Their tribute following his death said: "Jack died serving alongside some of the great friends he had made in the Army. He comes from a strong and loving family and we miss him dearly."

The incident was the 11th suspected death by friendly-fire since operations began in Afghanistan, and the third this year, the MoD said. It is understood the US jet believed to have been responsible for the death was on a "strafing run" and had been called in by British troops involved in a gunfight with insurgents. Two more servicemen were injured in the attack, sources said. The incident is also under investigation by the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

A total of 346 UK military personnel have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said: "It is clear to me from the tributes paid to him that Private Jack Howard was an immensely well liked soldier and an exceptionally gifted Paratrooper. That he chose to leave his native New Zealand to join the British Army to fight for the freedoms we all enjoy across the world speaks to his drive and determination. He will clearly be sorely missed by all those who knew him and my thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time."