They served their country with honour and courage – and 453 paid the ultimate price. But, after 13 years of bloodshed, there will be no memorial in Afghanistan to mark the troops’ sacrifice.
The lives of the young Britons killed fighting the Taliban had been commemorated on memorial walls in Camp Bastion, but as the UK’s campaign in the country ended yesterday, it was confirmed they had been dismantled.
A source said: ‘There is no memorial left in Afghanistan.’ The Army insisted the decision was not because of fears the memorials would be defaced or destroyed. But top-ranking soldiers and relatives of those who were killed said there was an obvious risk they would be ‘desecrated’ by a resurgent Taliban.
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Still in their teens: Of the 453 British servicemen and women who have lost their lives in the conflict, 35 were teenagers
THE FRESH FACED YOUNG MEN BARELY OUT OF SCHOOL WHO WENT TO AFGHANISTAN AND NEVER RETURNED
They went as fresh-faced young men and women, some of them barely out of school, to deliver stability and peace. But 453 British soldiers who travelled to Afghanistan never returned. The youngest was William Aldridge, deployed three days after his 18th birthday. He died on July 10, 2009.
Here are the names of other teenagers who gave their lives: Liam Maughan, 18, from Doncaster; James Brown, 18, from Kent; Jimmy Major, 18, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire; Johnathon Young, 18 from Hull; Louis Carter, 18, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire; William Aldridge, 18, from Bromyard, Herefordshire; James Backhouse, 18, from Castleford, Yorkshire; Joseph Murphy, 18, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands; Joshua Hammond, 18, Plymouth; Ben Ford, 18, Chesterfield, Derbyshire; Thomas Wroe, 18, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire; Robert Laws, 18, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire; John King, 19, from County Durham; Nigel Dean Mead, 19, from Carmarthenshire; Daniel Holkham, 19, from Kent; Jonathon Allott, 19, from Bournemouth; Martin Kinggett, 19, from London; Sean Dawson, 19, from Manchester; Peter Aldridge, 19, from Kent; Luke Farmer, 19, West Yorkshire; Robert Hayes, 19, Cambridge; Aidan Howell, 19, Kent; Gavin Elliott, 19, from South Yorkshire; Daniel Wild, 19, from Easington, County Durham; Cyrus Thatcher, 19, from Reading; Georgie Sparks, 19, from Epping, Essex; Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, from Sunderland; David Murray, 19, from Carlisle; Robert Foster, 19, from Harlow, Essex; Aaron McClure, 19, from Ipswich; Chris Gray, 19, from Leicester; Andrew Cutts, 19, from Mansfield; Damien Jackson, 19, from South Shields; Michael Sweeney, 19, from Blyth, Northumberland; Christopher Kershaw, 19, from Bradford.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon admitted yesterday that Afghanistan was still plagued by insurgency, and the failure to leave a memorial was seen by some as a tragic symbol of the West’s failure to secure the country, despite the hundreds of lives lost and billions of pounds spent in more than a decade of bitter war.
And as a solemn flag-lowering ceremony in Camp Bastion marked the end of the UK’s involvement in the bloody campaign, Mr Fallon admitted there was ‘no guarantee’ Afghanistan would be ‘stable’ or ‘safe’ after Britain’s departure.
He said Britain was leaving the country with a more secure future, but admitted the country was still not safe.
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Honouring the fallen: One of the memorial walls in Camp Bastion (left), where the Union flag was lowered for the final time yesterday
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Last chapter? The emblem was the last British flag flying above the skies of Helmand Province. It was lowered by Captain Matthew Clark, (left) and Warrant Officer 1 John Lilley (right) and will be returned to Britain after today's handover ceremony at Camp Bastion
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New phase: Remaining troops will be given a mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces, but will not be engaged in fighting
THE TERRIBLE TOLL OF SACRIFICE
£37bn estimated total UK cost of Afghan war as of last year
£178m annual amount the UK has pledged to provide in development aid to Afghanistan until 2017
£70m amount UK has agreed to provide each year until 2017 for developing Afghan National Security Force
6.7m number of Afghan children now attending school
40,000 number of people at Camp Bastion at its peak
999 number of gallantry awards 2001-14
He said: ‘The Taliban are still there – there is still insurgency.’
Of the 453 British servicemen who have lost their lives in the conflict, 35 were teenagers. An estimated 20,000 Afghan civilians have also lost their lives.
As each British soldier was killed, their name was engraved on a brass plaque on a concrete memorial wall in Camp Bastion. The wall became a place for individual and collective remembrance.
The plaques bear the names of all those killed, whether they were engaged in fighting or killed in accidents. They have been taken off the wall and will be part of a new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The wall and other memorials have been dismantled.
Defence sources told the Mail: ‘It is so the family have a suitable place where they can remember the dead. It is absolutely nothing to do with any Taliban threat of them wanting to destroy it.’
Tory MP Colonel Bob Stewart said: ‘It is a sensible decision. The memorial could be desecrated if it was left there. The best place for a memorial to be set up is where it has some resonance.’
Major General Patrick Cordingley, a former Gulf War commander who is also the appeal chairman of the arboretum, said there was ‘a risk’ that Afghans would resent the memorial.
He said: ‘It could be disfigured, blown up, all sorts of things could happen to it – who knows? It’s much better that it’s brought back where it’s safe in this country and people can visit it and pay respect to their loved ones.’
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Salute: The final ceremonial parade this morning was attended by around 200 military personnel and civilians
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Embrace: British (left) and Afghan soldiers during the handover ceremony today, which marked the end of British combat operations
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Handover: As the flags were lowered by British troops, the national anthems of Afghanistan and the UK played throughout
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Saying goodbye: Much of the once-sprawling base at Camp Bastion has now returned to lengthy strips of desert. Today marked the end of combat operations in Afghanistan after 13 years, billions of pounds and many deaths - tens of thousands of them of Afghan troops
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Abandoned: Brigadier Rob Thomson said at the empty base: 'I am kind of optimistic I think what we have achieved is something we can be proud of. There are still some challenges, but we can be positive'
War comes to an end as Union Jack is lowered over Camp Bastion
Trevor Ford, father of Private Ben Ford, who was 18 when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2007, said: ‘The Taliban would take any way they could get back at us.
‘They’d just love to deface the memorial then beam footage all over the world on YouTube. As soon as the international forces left, it would be damaged.’
Labour MP Paul Flynn said: ‘I’m afraid this decision does prove the point that the legacy that is being left behind is a fragile situation – and it shows that the Ministry of Defence unfortunately shares this view.’
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History: Thousands of British servicemen fought for eight years in the heat of Camp Bastion, pictured yesterday
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Barren: Remaining equipment will be flown home with around 500 troops left in Kabul carrying out training
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Safe haven: Camp Bastion, built in 2006, grew to a huge military city in the desert where troops could get away from the fighting
In a sign of the fragile situation in Afghanistan, security was heightened ahead of yesterday’s ceremony at Bastion, with officials warning there was still a threat the Taliban could make one final attack. During the ceremony, Nato’s flag was lowered, followed by the Union Jack and finally the American flag, leaving just the Afghan flag flying. An Afghan sermon was followed by a prayer.
Military chiefs admitted only ‘time will tell’ whether the Afghan forces will be able to keep Camp Bastion and the Helmand province out of the hands of the Taliban. Brigadier Rob Thomson, the most senior British officer in Helmand, said: ‘There are still some challenges in Afghanistan but we can be positive.’
Group Captain Andy Knowles, of the RAF Regiment, said: ‘We have definitely achieved our mission – this has been a military success without a doubt.’
But Will Davies, Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, said: ‘The inside threat is there. It is always going to be there. This is Helmand.’
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Final post: A makeshift bus stop in Camp Leatherneck, which was until today the last remaining major UK base in the country
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Mix of emotions: Corporal Thomas Warner 23, from Port Talbot of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, in tent accommodation at Camp Bastion yesterday as British troops prepared to withdraw from the 13-year conflict
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Memories: Staff Sergent Craig Worsley, 34, preparing to leave yesterday. Brigadier Darrell Amison, Commander of Joint Force Support, Afghanistan said: 'The soldier in 2006 is a very different one to 2014'
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In September 2013, David Cameron boldly declared Britain’s mission would be ‘accomplished’ by this month
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Final visit: Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the remaining British troops at the camp earlier this month
Cameron commends British killed and injured in Afghanistan
ROLL CALL: The full list of British troops killed in Afghanistan
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A total of 453 British forces personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians have died while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.
According to the MoD, of these, 404 were killed as a result of hostile action while 49 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation.
Here is a roll call of the 453 British service personnel who have died, or are missing believed to be dead, since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001.
SOURCE: PRESS ASSOCIATION
2002
APRIL
Pte Darren George, 23, Pirbright, Surrey. The Royal Anglian Regiment.
AUGUST
Sgt Robert Busuttil, 30. Swansea. The Royal Logistic Corps.
Cpl John Gregory, 30, Catterick, North Yorkshire. The Royal Logistic Corps.
2004
JANUARY
Pte Jonathan Kitulagoda, 23, Plymouth, Devon. The Rifle Volunteers.
2005
OCTOBER
LCpl Steven Sherwood, 23, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry.
2006
MARCH
Cpl Mark Cridge, 25. 7 Signal Regiment.
LCpl Peter Craddock. 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
JUNE
Cpt Jim Philippson, 29, St Albans, Hertfordshire. 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
Cpt David Patten, 38. The Parachute Regiment.
Sgt Paul Bartlett, 35. The Royal Marines.
JULY
Cpl Peter Thorpe, 27, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The Royal Signals.
LCpl Jabron Hashmi, 24, Birmingham. The Intelligence Corps.
Pte Damien Jackson, 19, South Shields, Tyne and Wear. 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
AUGUST
Cpt Alex Eida, 29, Hooley, Surrey. 7 Parachute Regiment The Royal Horse Artillery.
2nd Lt Ralph Johnson, 24, Windsor, Berkshire. The Household Cavalry Regiment.
LCpl Ross Nicholls, 27, Edinburgh. The Blues and Royals.
Pte Andrew Cutts, 19, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The Royal Logistic Corps.
Pte Leigh Reeves, 25, Leicester. The Royal Logistic Corps.
LCpl Sean Tansey, 26, Newcastle. The Life Guards.
Cpl Bryan Budd, 29, Ripon, North Yorkshire. 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
LCpl Jonathan Hetherington, 22, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 14 Signal Regiment.
SEPTEMBER
Ranger Anare Draiva, 27, Fiji. 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.
LCpl Paul Muirhead, 29, Bearley, Warwickshire. 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.
Flight Lt Steven Johnson, 38, Collingham, Nottinghamshire. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Lt Leigh Mitchelmore, 28, Bournemouth, Dorset. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Lt Gareth Nicholas, 40, Redruth, Cornwall. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Lt Allan Squires, 39, Clatterbridge, Merseyside. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, Liverpool. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Sgt Gary Andrews, 48, Tankerton, Kent. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, Dundee. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Sgt Gerard Bell, 48, Ely, Cambridgeshire. 120 Squadron RAF.
Flight Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, Amersham, Buckinghamshire. 120 Squadron RAF.
Sgt Benjamin Knight, 25, Bridgwater, Somerset. 120 Squadron RAF.
Sgt John Langton, 29, Liverpool. 120 Squadron RAF.
Sgt Gary Quilliam, 42, Manchester. 120 Squadron RAF.
LCpl Oliver Dicketts, 27, Wadhurst, East Sussex. 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Joseph Windall, 22, Hazlemere, Bucks. Royal Marines.
Pte Craig O'Donnell, 24, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Cpl Mark Wright, 27, Edinburgh. 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
LCpl Luke McCulloch, 21. 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.
OCTOBER
Marine Gary Wright, 22, Glasgow. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
DECEMBER
Marine Jonathan Wigley, 21, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine Richard Watson, 23, Caterham, Surrey. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Lance Bombardier James Dwyer, 22, South Africa. 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
2007
JANUARY
Marine Thomas Curry, 21, east London. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
LCpl Mathew Ford, 30, Immingham, Lincolnshire. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
FEBRUARY
Marine Jonathan Holland, 23, Chorley, Lancashire. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine Scott Summers, 23, Crawley, West Sussex. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
MARCH
Lance Bombardier Ross Clark, 25, South Africa. 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin, 21, Lancashire. 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
Marine Benjamin Reddy, 22, Ascot, Berkshire. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Smith, 39, Liverpool. 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
APRIL
Pte Chris Gray, 19, Leicester. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
MAY
Gdsm Simon Davison, 22, Newcastle upon Tyne. 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
LCpl George Davey, 23, Beccles, Suffolk. 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment.
Gdsm Daniel Probyn, 22, Tipton, West Midlands. 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Cpl Darren Bonner, 31, Gorleston, Norfolk. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Cpl Mike Gilyeat, 28. Royal Military Police.
JUNE
LCpl Paul Sandford, 23, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.
Gdsm Neil Downes, 20, Manchester. 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards.
Drummer Thomas Wright, 26, Ripley, Derbyshire. 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.
Cpt Sean Dolan, 40, the West Midlands. 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.
JULY
Sgt Dave Wilkinson, 33, Ashford, Kent. 19 Regiment Royal Artillery.
Gdsm Daryl Hickey, 27, Birmingham. 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
LCpl Alex Hawkins, 22, East Dereham, Norfolk. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Gdsm David Atherton, 25, Manchester. 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Sgt Barry Keen, 34, Gateshead. 14 Signals Regiment.
LCpl Michael Jones, 26 Newbald, East Yorkshire. Royal Marines.
AUGUST
Pte Tony Rawson, 27, Dagenham, Essex. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian.
Cpt David Hicks, 26, Wokingham, Berkshire. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
Pte Aaron McClure, 19, Ipswich, Suffolk. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Pte Robert Foster, 19, Harlow, Essex. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Pte John Thrumble, 21, Chelmsford, Essex. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Senior Aircraftman Christopher Bridge, 20, Sheffield. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment.
SEPTEMBER
Pte Damian Wright, 23, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
Pte Ben Ford, 18, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
Sgt Craig Brelsford, 25, Nottingham. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
Pte Johan Botha, 25, Pretoria in South Africa. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
LCpl Ivano Violino, 29, Salford. 36 Engineer Regiment.
Colour Sgt Phillip Newman, 36, Coventry. 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment
Pte Brian Tunnicliffe, 33, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
OCTOBER
Major Alexis Roberts, 32, Kent. 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
NOVEMBER
LCpl Jake Alderton, 22, Bexley, Kent. 36 Engineer Regiment.
Cpt John McDermid, 43, Glasgow. Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
DECEMBER
Trooper Jack Sadler, 21, Exeter, Devon. The Honourable Artillery Company.
Sgt Lee Johnson, 33, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland. 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.
2008
JANUARY
Cpl Darryl Gardiner, 25, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
FEBRUARY
Cpl Damian Lawrence, 25, Whitby, North Yorkshire. 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.
Cpl Damian Mulvihill, 32, Plymouth. 40 Commando Royal Marines.
MARCH
Lt John Thornton, 22, Ferndown, Dorset. 40 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine David Marsh, 23, Sheffield. 40 Commando Royal Marines.
APRIL
Senior Aircraftman Graham Livingstone, 23, Glasgow. The Royal Air Force Regiment.
Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson, 51, Nottingham. Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment.
Trooper Robert Pearson, 22, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The Queen's Royal Lancers.
MAY
Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29, Fiji. The Household Cavalry Regiment.
James Thompson, 27, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.
Marine Dale Gostick, 22, Oxford. 3 Troop Armoured Support Company Royal Marines.
JUNE
Pte Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, Sunderland. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Pte Daniel Gamble, 22, Uckfield, East Sussex. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Pte Charles David Murray, 19, Carlisle. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
LCpl James Bateman, 29, Colchester, Essex. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Pte Jeff Doherty, 20, Southam, Warwickshire. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26, Cumbria. The Intelligence Corps.
Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, 28. The Royal Signals.
LCpl Richard Larkin, 39.
Paul Stout, 31.
Sgt Major Michael Williams, 40, Cardiff. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Pte Joe Whittaker, 20, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
Warrant Officer Dan Shirley, 32, Leicester. 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps.
LCpl James Johnson, 31, Chatham, Kent. 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
JULY
Cpl Jason Barnes, 25, Exeter, Devon. Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
LCpl Kenneth Michael Rowe, 24, Newcastle. Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Sgt Jonathan Mathews, 35, Edinburgh. The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Pte Peter Cowton, 25, Basingstoke, Hants. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
AUGUST
Signaller Wayne Bland, 21, Leeds. 16 Signal Regiment.
Cpl Barry Dempsey, 29, Ayrshire. The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
SEPTEMBER
Ranger Justin James Cupples, 29, County Cavan, Ireland. 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary O'Donnell, 40, Edinburgh. The Royal Logistic Corps.
Pte Jason Lee Rawstron, 23, Clayton-Le-Moors, Lancashire. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
LCpl Nicky Mason, 26, Aveley, Essex. 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
OCTOBER
Trooper James Munday, 21, Birmingham. D Squadron, The Household Cavalry.
NOVEMBER
Yubraj Rai, 28, Khotang district, eastern Nepal. 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Marine Robert McKibben, 32, Westport in Co Mayo. The UK Landing Force Command Support Group.
Marine Neil Dunstan, 32, Bournemouth. The UK Landing Force Command Support Group.
Colour Sgt Krishnabahadur Dura, 36, Lamjung district, western Nepal. 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Marine Alexander Lucas, 24, Edinburgh. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine Tony Evans, 20, Sunderland. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine Georgie Sparks, 19, Epping, Essex. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
DECEMBER
LCpl Steven "Jamie" Fellows, 26, High Wycombe. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Sgt John Manuel, 38, Gateshead. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Cpl Marc Birch, 26, Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Marine Damian Davies, 27, Telford. Landing Force Support Party, Commando Logistic Regiment.
Lt Aaron Lewis, 26, Rochford, Essex. 29 Commando Royal Artillery.
Rfn Stuart Nash, 21, Sydney, Australia. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Cpl Robert Christopher Deering, 33, Solihull, West Midlands. Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines.
LCpl Ben Whatley, 20, Tittleshall, Norfolk. 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Cpl Liam Elms, 26, Wigan. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
2009
JANUARY
Sgt Christopher John Reed, 25, Plymouth. 6th Battalion The Rifles.
Royal Marine Travis Mackin, 22, Plymouth. UK Landing Force Command Support Group, operating as part of 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Cpt Tom Sawyer, 26, Hertfordshire. 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
Cpl Danny Winter, 28, Stockport. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
Acting Cpl Richard Robinson, 21, Saltash, Cornwall. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Cpl Daniel Nield, 31, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
FEBRUARY
Marine Darren Smith, 28, Fleetwood, Lancashire. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
LCpl Stephen Kingscott, 22, Plymouth. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Acting LCpl Paul Upton, 31, Looe, Cornwall. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Cpl Tom Gaden, 24, Taunton, Somerset. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn Jamie Gunn, 21, Monmouth. 1st Battalion The Rifles.
Marine Michael Laski, 21, Liverpool. 45 Commando Royal Marines.
MARCH
LCpl Christopher Harkett, 22, Pontardawe in Swansea. 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment.
Cpl Graeme Stiff, 24, Grimsby. Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.
Cpl Dean John, 25, Port Talbot. Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.
APRIL
Lance Sgt Tobie Fasfous, 29, Bridgend, South Wales. 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
MAY
Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, born in Dublin. The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Rfn Adrian Sheldon, 25, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottingham. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Sgt Ben Ross, 34, Bangor, Wales. 173 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police.
Cpl Kumar Pun, 31, the Parbat district of Western Nepal. 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Lt Mark Evison, 26, Dulwich, south-east London. 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards.
Marine Jason Mackie, 21, Oxfordshire. Royal Marine Armoured Support Group.
Fusilier Petero "Pat" Suesue, 28, Fiji. 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Sapper Jordan Rossi, 22 West Yorkshire. 25 Field Squadron, 38 Engineer Regiment.
LCpl Martin Richards, 24, Betws-y-Coed, North Wales. Armoured Support Group Royal Marines.
LCpl Kieron Hill, 20, Nottingham. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters).
LCpl Nigel Moffett, 28, Belfast. The Light Dragoons.
Cpl Stephen Bolger. The Parachute Regiment.
JUNE
Rfn Cyrus Thatcher, 19, Reading. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Pte Robert McLaren, 20, the Isle of Mull. The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Lt Paul Mervis, 27, London. 2nd Battalion the Rifles.
Major Sean Birchall, 33, Guildford, Surrey. 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
JULY
Lt Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, 39, Kirtlington, near Oxford. 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, Plymouth. 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
LCpl David Dennis, 29, Llanelli, South Wales. The Light Dragoons.
Pte Robert Laws, 18, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
LCpl Dane Elson, 22, Zimbabwe. 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
Cpt Ben Babington-Browne, 27, Maidstone, Kent. 22 Engineer Regiment.
Trooper Christopher Whiteside, 20, Blackpool. The Light Dragoons.
Rfn Daniel Hume, 22, Maidenhead, Berkshire. 4th Battalion The Rifles.
Pte John Brackpool, 27, Crawley, West Sussex. Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
Cpl Lee Scott, 26, King's Lynn, Norfolk. The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
Cpl Jonathan Horne, 28, Walsall, West Midlands. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn William Aldridge, 18, Bromyard, Herefordshire. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn James Backhouse, 18, Castleford, Yorkshire. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn Joseph Murphy, 18, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn Daniel Simpson, 20, Croydon, south London. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rfn Aminiasi Toge, 26, Suva, Fiji. 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Cpl Joseph Etchells, 22, Mossley, Greater Manchester. 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Cpt Daniel Shepherd, 28, Lincoln. The Royal Logistic Corps.
Gdsm Christopher King, 20, West Buckland, Devon. 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, Castleford, West Yorkshire. 40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners).
Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, 35, Nottinghamshire. 5th Regiment Royal Artillery.
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