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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Prince's sadness at Basra death | Prince's sadness at Basra death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prince William has expressed his sadness after a "close friend" from Sandhurst was killed in Iraq. | Prince William has expressed his sadness after a "close friend" from Sandhurst was killed in Iraq. |
| The prince was "deeply saddened" by the death of 2nd Lt Joanna Yorke Dyer, 24, a statement from Clarence House said. | The prince was "deeply saddened" by the death of 2nd Lt Joanna Yorke Dyer, 24, a statement from Clarence House said. |
| Cpl Kris O'Neill, Private Eleanor Dlugosz and Kingsman Adam James Smith also died in the roadside bomb blast near Basra, southern Iraq on Thursday. | |
| A civilian Kuwaiti translator was also killed in the blast, while a fifth soldier was very seriously injured. | A civilian Kuwaiti translator was also killed in the blast, while a fifth soldier was very seriously injured. |
| 'Thoughts and prayers' | 'Thoughts and prayers' |
| The injured soldier is being treated in the military hospital in Basra. | The injured soldier is being treated in the military hospital in Basra. |
| The statement from Clarence House said Prince William was "deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Joanna Dyer's death". | The statement from Clarence House said Prince William was "deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Joanna Dyer's death". |
| It added: "Jo was a close friend of his at Sandhurst and he is very much thinking of her family and friends right now and they will remain in his thoughts and prayers." | It added: "Jo was a close friend of his at Sandhurst and he is very much thinking of her family and friends right now and they will remain in his thoughts and prayers." |
| Second Lt Yorke Dyer was from the Intelligence Corps attached to the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. | Second Lt Yorke Dyer was from the Intelligence Corps attached to the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. |
| She was born in 1983 in Berlin and read philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford before officer training at Sandhurst. | She was born in 1983 in Berlin and read philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford before officer training at Sandhurst. |
| Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon, said: "From a very early stage it was evident that Jo was a talented and energetic officer who was determined to make the most of her deployment to Iraq. | Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon, said: "From a very early stage it was evident that Jo was a talented and energetic officer who was determined to make the most of her deployment to Iraq. |
| "Her enthusiasm was boundless and her contribution to our operations, even within a few short weeks, was invaluable. We very quickly came to think of her as one of us." | "Her enthusiasm was boundless and her contribution to our operations, even within a few short weeks, was invaluable. We very quickly came to think of her as one of us." |
| The MoD said: "An enthusiastic and charming officer, Jo quickly made her mark in a communications role with the battalion, a post normally reserved for a more experienced officer." | The MoD said: "An enthusiastic and charming officer, Jo quickly made her mark in a communications role with the battalion, a post normally reserved for a more experienced officer." |
| 'Experienced and confident' | 'Experienced and confident' |
| Private Dlugosz, 19, from Southampton, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, was "held in high regard by all who knew her", the MoD said. | |
| Her troop commander, 2nd Lieutenant Vinny Ramshaw, said: "Pte Dlugosz was a strong and morally courageous young woman, who was an example to many older and more experienced soldiers. | Her troop commander, 2nd Lieutenant Vinny Ramshaw, said: "Pte Dlugosz was a strong and morally courageous young woman, who was an example to many older and more experienced soldiers. |
| "Supremely dedicated to her work, she thoroughly enjoyed her soldiering and was keen to use her life-saving skills as a medic to help others." | "Supremely dedicated to her work, she thoroughly enjoyed her soldiering and was keen to use her life-saving skills as a medic to help others." |
| Also from the Royal Army Medical Corps, Cpl O'Neill, 27, from Catterick, Yorkshire, was an "experienced and confident medic, with an unflappable nature", the MoD said. | Also from the Royal Army Medical Corps, Cpl O'Neill, 27, from Catterick, Yorkshire, was an "experienced and confident medic, with an unflappable nature", the MoD said. |
| He was "a committed family man with two small boys", it added. | He was "a committed family man with two small boys", it added. |
| His squadron commander, Major Phil Carter, said: "I could always depend on Cpl O'Neill." | His squadron commander, Major Phil Carter, said: "I could always depend on Cpl O'Neill." |
| Kingsman Smith was from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. | Kingsman Smith was from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. |
| Aged 19 and from Liverpool, he was a "popular and highly respected colleague", the Ministry of Defence said. | Aged 19 and from Liverpool, he was a "popular and highly respected colleague", the Ministry of Defence said. |
| Kingsman Smith's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon, said: "He showed all the qualities of a reconnaissance soldier, dependable, determined and a real team player." | Kingsman Smith's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon, said: "He showed all the qualities of a reconnaissance soldier, dependable, determined and a real team player." |
| His family released a statement tonight, saying: "Adam was the most wonderful and beautiful person anyone could wish to meet. He always had a smile on his face and loved life so much, he had everything to live for. | His family released a statement tonight, saying: "Adam was the most wonderful and beautiful person anyone could wish to meet. He always had a smile on his face and loved life so much, he had everything to live for. |
| "He was a loving son, brother and the best boyfriend in the whole world and he will be missed more than words can say. He will forever be in our hearts." | "He was a loving son, brother and the best boyfriend in the whole world and he will be missed more than words can say. He will forever be in our hearts." |
| According to the MoD, the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday as the troops returned from patrol duty. | According to the MoD, the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday as the troops returned from patrol duty. |
| Their vehicle first came under attack near the centre of Basra and continued on its way. | Their vehicle first came under attack near the centre of Basra and continued on its way. |
| However, on a stretch of highway in the Hayaniyah district on the north-western outskirts of Basra it was hit by a massive bomb explosion which wrecked the vehicle and left a three-foot crater. | However, on a stretch of highway in the Hayaniyah district on the north-western outskirts of Basra it was hit by a massive bomb explosion which wrecked the vehicle and left a three-foot crater. |
| The soldiers were all on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when they died. | The soldiers were all on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when they died. |
| This latest incident brings the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 140. | This latest incident brings the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 140. |
| Four British servicewomen have now died in action in Iraq, while the death of a fifth was not thought to be combat-related. | Four British servicewomen have now died in action in Iraq, while the death of a fifth was not thought to be combat-related. |