Three soldiers repatriated to Lyneham
26th April 2007
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The bodies of three British servicemen killed in Iraq were repatriated back to the UK.
Corporal Ben Leaning, 24, and Trooper Kristen Turton, 28, were killed on 19 April in an explosion in Maysan province. Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones, 20, was providing protection for a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was killed by small arms fire in Basra on St Georges Day.

A private repatriation ceremony was held at RAF Lyneham Wiltshire this morning after the bodies were carried off the gigantic C17 air transporter. A single bugler played the last post as the first coffin was delicately brought back onto British soil. met by the men's families. Corporal Leaning and Trooper Turton, both from the Catterick-based Queen's Royal Lancers, were patrolling in a Scimitar tank when the blast happened.

Corporal Leaning, known as Bill to his friends and from Scunthorpe, was described as a "fine soldier and a natural leader". He joined the Army in 1999 and served in Oman and Kosovo as well as Iraq in 2003, progressing quickly through the ranks and becoming a crew commander and signals instructor before going to Iraq last autumn.

Trooper Turton, from Grimsby, joined The Queen's Royal Lancers in 2003 and became a trained sharp-shooter and specialised in demolitions. His wife Sharon, whom he married in 2004, described him as the "most amazing person" she had ever met.

Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones, from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed while out on patrol in the Al Ashar district of central Basra. The gunner, from Liverpool, was described as "cheerful and likeable". His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon, said he would be remembered as a "professional soldier who was loyal to his regiment and his friends".

Inset left to right Corporal Ben Leaning, Trooper Kristen and Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones.