Afghanistan war dead flown home
18th December 2008
The bodies of five service personnel killed in Afghanistan in the past week have been brought back to the UK.

Sergeant John Manuel, Corporal Marc Birch and Marine Damian Davies died on Friday in a blast caused by a suspected 13-year-old suicide bomber. Earlier that day, Lance Corporal Steven Fellows was killed in an explosion on a routine patrol in an armoured vehicle.

Lieutenant Aaron Lewis died on the 15th December 2008 when the gun position he was commanding came under attack. Family members watched in silence as the giant strategic airlifter C17 aircraft touched down at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at exactly 1100 GMT.

Villagers waited in a bitterly cold south-westerly winter wind, to pay their final respects for the fallen heroes who were escorted through the village to Oxfordshire's John Radcliffe Hospital. Passing vehicles stopped outside Heather Moor and Edgecomb, as staff and friends of the Lyneham based financial advisors lined the main street to salute the soldiers as they made their final journey. In Wootton Bassett, hundreds lined the streets as a mark of respect when the bodies of five British soldiers arrived home. A crowd of up to 1,000 watched a cortege of hearses travel through the high street, and pause at the local war memorial for a minute’s silence. The crowds of Royal British Legion members, shopkeepers, supporters, ex-servicemen and their families have appeared spontaneously along the route ever since the first bodies began coming home last year. An MoD spokeswoman said today: “It’s not an official thing. Word just spreads and people turn out. It really is impressive.”

Explaining the popularity of the processions last year, British Legion branch secretary Mrs Bevis said: "It is the only way that we can show our thoughts are with these brave men and women, and the loved ones they have left behind. They gave their lives, so what is a few minutes of ours, just to show that we care?"

Enemy fire
Sergeant Manuel, 38, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and 26-year-old Corporal Birch, from Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire, were serving with Arbroath-based 45 Commando. Marine Davies, 27, from Telford, Shropshire, was with the Commando Logistics Regiment based at Royal Marine Base Chivenor in north Devon.

Lance Corporal Fellows, 26, from Sheffield, was also a member of 45 Commando. Lieutenant Lewis, 26, from Essex, served with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, based at the Royal Citadel in Plymouth.

The number of British military deaths in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 rose to 134 on 17th December 2008 with the announcement that a soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles was killed by enemy fire. The soldier, based in Chepstow, was hit by enemy fire in southern Helmand. An MoD spokesman said the soldier was taking part in an operation against enemy forces in the district of Nad-e-Ali.

He received immediate medical care at the scene and was taken by helicopter to the military hospital at Camp Bastion for further treatment but died of his wounds. Spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, Commander Paula Rowe, said: "The death of this soldier has left everyone in Task Force Helmand deeply saddened. Whilst words cannot ease their devastating loss, our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues at this time."

Captain Mark Windsor Royal Navy, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of this brave soldier whose sacrifice is made all the more poignant at this time of year. This man gave his life for the people of Afghanistan; ISAF remains committed to the cause for which he died."

Wootton Bassett pays silent tribute more..