Repatriations of
heroes are last of the year
30th December 2008
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
By Hayley Court
CROWDS gathered for the last time this year to pay their respects
to the final two fallen servicemen repatriated through Wootton
Bassett in 2008.
It was the 61st time this year residents had stood along
the roadside, heads bowed, mourning the loss of the latest
heroes to pay the ultimate price. To date 137 British service
personnel have been killed serving in the Middle East and
the majority have made their final journey through the streets
of Wootton Bassett lined by a sea of veterans and supporters.
Yesterday the crowd stood by the roadside to pay tribute
Corporal Robert Deering from the Commando Logistic Regiment
Royal Marines and Lance Corporal Benjamin Whatley, of Lima
Company 42 Commando, Royal Marines.
PC Jarra Brown, the MoD community police officer for RAF
Lyneham, has led the sombre convoy through the small market
town since April 2007 when he was approached by funeral director
Rob Rowntree. He said: “It’s been my very proud
duty to take part in the repatriations. It’s
the last respect we can show to the brave servicemen and
women who give their lives in service to their country.”
Corporal Deering, 33, was killed early one morning when
a Viking armoured personnel carrier was involved in an explosion
west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province, injuring three personnel
and disabling the vehicle.
As Corporal Deering approached the vehicle to assess the
damage, there was a second explosion which killed him instantly.
His colleague Lance Corporal Whatley was killed on Christmas
Eve in Nad-E-Ali District, central Helmand, by enemy fire
during a prolonged and fierce battle with insurgents.
“I thought after a while that the gravity of the task
would no longer affect me,” said PC Brown.
“But I am moved every time I see the coffins draped
in the union flag.”
PC Brown has been part of a team of officers from Lyneham
and Wootton Bassett who volunteer for the duty every time
a fallen soldier returns home – many of the volunteers
do so on their days off. PC Brown said: “We’d
rather not have to do such a sad thing but we are proud to
offer this service and will continue to do so for as long
as our service personnel are dying overseas.
“I always hope the next one will be the last.”
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