This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/5317032.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tributes for Iraq death soldier | |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The father of a British soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has said his son loved serving his country. | The father of a British soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has said his son loved serving his country. |
| Stephen Wright, 20, was one of two soldiers who died after an ambush near Ad Dayr, north of Basra on Monday. | |
| The gunner, from Leyland, Lancashire, was a member of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery. His father Stephen Leigh said he had "just wanted to serve". | |
| His commanding officer said Gunner Wright, known to colleagues as Trigger, had "very much come of age in Iraq". | His commanding officer said Gunner Wright, known to colleagues as Trigger, had "very much come of age in Iraq". |
| Lt Col Jon Campbell said: "I was struck by Gunner Wright's confidence, growing maturity and belief in himself. | Lt Col Jon Campbell said: "I was struck by Gunner Wright's confidence, growing maturity and belief in himself. |
| "A quiet man, never one to offer unnecessary comment, he preferred to speak only when he had something of value to add." | "A quiet man, never one to offer unnecessary comment, he preferred to speak only when he had something of value to add." |
| He died doing what he loved. He just wanted to serve his country Stephen Leigh, father | He died doing what he loved. He just wanted to serve his country Stephen Leigh, father |
| He added: "To lose such a valued young man under these tragic circumstances has affected all us enormously." | He added: "To lose such a valued young man under these tragic circumstances has affected all us enormously." |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I was extremely sad to hear of the death of Gunner Wright. | Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I was extremely sad to hear of the death of Gunner Wright. |
| "By all accounts he was a most valuable member of his unit and a tribute to his regiment. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time." | "By all accounts he was a most valuable member of his unit and a tribute to his regiment. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time." |
| The deaths of Gunner Wright and his colleague bring the total number of UK soldiers killed in operations in Iraq since the 2003 conflict to 117. | The deaths of Gunner Wright and his colleague bring the total number of UK soldiers killed in operations in Iraq since the 2003 conflict to 117. |
| The Ministry of Defence said a roadside bomb struck their Land Rover patrol vehicle as it supported a Danish reconstruction team. | The Ministry of Defence said a roadside bomb struck their Land Rover patrol vehicle as it supported a Danish reconstruction team. |
| Second tragedy | Second tragedy |
| Mr Leigh, said he was proud of his son. | Mr Leigh, said he was proud of his son. |
| "He could have been doing something he didn't like, but he loved the army," he said. | "He could have been doing something he didn't like, but he loved the army," he said. |
| "I don't want people to think otherwise. He was serving Leyland, Lancashire and his country. He died doing what he loved. He just wanted to serve his country." | "I don't want people to think otherwise. He was serving Leyland, Lancashire and his country. He died doing what he loved. He just wanted to serve his country." |
| After enlisting, Gunner Wright trained with the Royal Artillery in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and was then based at Sennelager, in Germany. | After enlisting, Gunner Wright trained with the Royal Artillery in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and was then based at Sennelager, in Germany. |
| His battery, 58 (Eyre's), is four months into a six-and-a-half-month tour of Iraq. | His battery, 58 (Eyre's), is four months into a six-and-a-half-month tour of Iraq. |
| "I don't want to get into why the Army are there, or whether they should be," Mr Leigh said. | "I don't want to get into why the Army are there, or whether they should be," Mr Leigh said. |
| "That is irrelevant to me but it's hard that he's a victim of this conflict. Stephen felt the same, every time I spoke to him he said 'Dad, it's my job'." | "That is irrelevant to me but it's hard that he's a victim of this conflict. Stephen felt the same, every time I spoke to him he said 'Dad, it's my job'." |
| The family suffered another tragedy 10 months ago when Stephen's mother, Elaine Wright, 43, died in hospital after surgery on her ovaries. | The family suffered another tragedy 10 months ago when Stephen's mother, Elaine Wright, 43, died in hospital after surgery on her ovaries. |
| Gunner Wright last visited home six weeks ago. | Gunner Wright last visited home six weeks ago. |
| Mr Leigh said he hoped his son would have a funeral with full military honours. | Mr Leigh said he hoped his son would have a funeral with full military honours. |