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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tributes for Iraq death soldier | Tributes for Iraq death soldier |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The family of a British soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has said his son loved serving his country. | The family 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. | 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". | 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." |
| By all accounts he was a most valuable member of his unit and a tribute to his regiment Des Browne, Defence Secretary | By all accounts he was a most valuable member of his unit and a tribute to his regiment Des Browne, Defence Secretary |
| 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." |
| Second tragedy | Second tragedy |
| 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. |
| In a statement, Gunner Wright's family said the death had "come as a massive shock" as only 10 months ago his mother, Elaine, 43, died in hospital after surgery on her ovaries. | In a statement, Gunner Wright's family said the death had "come as a massive shock" as only 10 months ago his mother, Elaine, 43, died in hospital after surgery on her ovaries. |
| "Stephen was a quiet, happy, young man who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his friends and family," they said. | "Stephen was a quiet, happy, young man who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his friends and family," they said. |
| Stephen loved the Army life. It was all he wanted to do Family statement | Stephen loved the Army life. It was all he wanted to do Family statement |
| "A few weeks ago, he spent time at home with his grandparents on R&R before returning to Iraq. He was looking forward to going back to finish his duties. | "A few weeks ago, he spent time at home with his grandparents on R&R before returning to Iraq. He was looking forward to going back to finish his duties. |
| "Stephen loved the Army life. It was all he wanted to do. The whole family is very proud of him." | "Stephen loved the Army life. It was all he wanted to do. The whole family is very proud of him." |
| 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." |
| Gunner Wright joined the army aged 16 after four years as a cadet. He trained with the Royal Artillery in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and was then based at Sennelager, in Germany. | Gunner Wright joined the army aged 16 after four years as a cadet. He 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. |
| Gunner Wright had been selected to attend a promotional course on return to Germany. | |
| "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'." |
| 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. |