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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Basra gunshot death soldier named | Basra gunshot death soldier named |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier who died in a shooting incident in Basra has been named by the Ministry of Defence. | A British soldier who died in a shooting incident in Basra has been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| Private Ryan Wrathall, 21, from Surbiton, Surrey, was serving in the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, when he died on Thursday. | Private Ryan Wrathall, 21, from Surbiton, Surrey, was serving in the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, when he died on Thursday. |
| He died from a gunshot wound at the Contingency Operating Base. The incident is being investigated, but it is understood nobody else was involved. | He died from a gunshot wound at the Contingency Operating Base. The incident is being investigated, but it is understood nobody else was involved. |
| The number of UK troops who have died in Iraq since 2003 now stands at 179. | The number of UK troops who have died in Iraq since 2003 now stands at 179. |
| Lt Col Edward Chamberlain said: "The death of any soldier is a personal tragedy both for his family and us, his comrades in arms." | |
| 'Maturing visibly' | |
| He added: "Private Wrathall was a fit, enthusiastic and openhearted member of the 5 Rifles Battle Group for this Iraq tour who will be sorely missed by us all. | |
| "I am proud to have served with him, he was a hard-working soldier with a masterful sense of the ridiculous who was maturing visibly through the tour." | "I am proud to have served with him, he was a hard-working soldier with a masterful sense of the ridiculous who was maturing visibly through the tour." |
| Pte Wrathall enlisted into the Army in November 2007 and trained in Canada before being posted to Iraq in November 2008. | Pte Wrathall enlisted into the Army in November 2007 and trained in Canada before being posted to Iraq in November 2008. |
| His father had recently been seriously ill in Spain and he had travelled there with his mother to visit him. | His father had recently been seriously ill in Spain and he had travelled there with his mother to visit him. |
| All our thoughts are with his mother and family now. No words can ease their suffering and nothing can bring him back Lt Col Charlie Sykes | |
| Lt Col Charlie Sykes said: "A diligent and loving son, Pte Wrathall had a particularly strong relationship with his mother and was always looking to make her proud. | |
| "All our thoughts are with his mother and family now. No words can ease their suffering and nothing can bring him back. Our loss is but a fraction of theirs." | |
| The death was even harder to come to terms with because Basra was at relative peace, he said. | |
| He described Pte Wrathall as quiet and reserved at first, before growing in confidence. | |
| "Kind-hearted and gentle, his personal administration seemed well-designed to test his platoon sergeant's sense of humour," he added. | |
| Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "Private Ryan Wrathall's colleagues and commanders have described him as a man who was professional, courteous, amiable and determined - a testament to his family and a sad loss to the Army. | |
| "I was saddened to hear of his death and my thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time." | |
| In December last year, two British servicemen died at the same base from gunshot wounds which are thought to have been self-inflicted. | In December last year, two British servicemen died at the same base from gunshot wounds which are thought to have been self-inflicted. |
| Lance Corporal David Wilson, 27, serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, from West Yorkshire, died from a wound on 4 December. | Lance Corporal David Wilson, 27, serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, from West Yorkshire, died from a wound on 4 December. |
| Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, died a week later. | Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, died a week later. |