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Bodies of UK soldiers return home | Bodies of UK soldiers return home |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The bodies of three British servicemen killed in Iraq have been flown back to the UK. | |
Cpl Ben Leaning, 24, and Tpr Kristen Turton, 28, were killed on 19 April in an explosion in Maysan province. | Cpl Ben Leaning, 24, and Tpr 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 23 April. | Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones, 20, was providing protection for a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was killed by small arms fire in Basra on 23 April. |
Grieving loved ones took part in a repatriation ceremony on the runway at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. | |
The coffins, each one draped in a union flag, were taken from the rear of a plane by slow-marching pall bearers into waiting hearses. | |
Cpl Leaning and Tpr Turton, both from the Catterick-based Queen's Royal Lancers, were patrolling in a Scimitar tank when the blast happened. | Cpl Leaning and Tpr Turton, both from the Catterick-based Queen's Royal Lancers, were patrolling in a Scimitar tank when the blast happened. |
Cpl Leaning, from Scunthorpe, was described as a "fine soldier and a natural leader". | |
Kingsman Jones was an Everton fan and keen footballer | Kingsman Jones was an Everton fan and keen footballer |
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. | 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. |
Tpr Turton, from Grimsby, joined The Queen's Royal Lancers in 2003 and became a trained sharp-shooter and specialised in demolitions. | Tpr 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. | His wife Sharon, whom he married in 2004, described him as the "most amazing person" she had ever met. |
Kingsman 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". | 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". | 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". |
Wiltshire coroner David Masters is expected to hold an inquest into their deaths. |