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UK soldier killed in Iraq attack UK soldier killed in Iraq named
(about 19 hours later)
A British soldier from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment has been killed in Basra, southern Iraq. A British soldier killed in Basra, southern Iraq, has been named as Lance Corporal Timothy "Daz" Flowers.
The Ministry of Defence said the soldier died as a result of a rocket or mortar attack on the Army's Basra Palace base on Saturday. L/Cpl Flowers, 25, who served with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, died on Saturday after an attack on the Army's Basra Palace base.
The soldier's next of kin have been informed, the MoD said. The Ministry of Defence said the soldier, who lived in Northern Ireland, was working on a vehicle when a rocket or mortar hit the site.
The death brings the total number of British service personnel killed in Iraq to 163, with 127 of those killed in combat. His commanding officer said his death had dealt "a body blow" to the company.
The soldier was on attachment to the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Major Fabian Roberts MVO, commander of the Irish Guards Company to which L/Cpl Flowers was attached, said: "He was ostensibly a quiet, modest man, who got on with his job with unstinting pragmatism and determination.
'Imprecise science' "Yet there was a depth to him intellectually and in his wider personality that made him full of surprises."
Major Mike Shearer, British military spokesman in Basra, explained to BBC News 24 the term "indirect fire", which is the official cause of the soldier's death. L/Cpl Flowers' death brings the total number of British service personnel killed in Iraq to 163, with 127 of those killed in combat.
He said: "Indirect fire means that there... will be a fire base that cannot have eyes on to the area in which they exactly want to land their munitions. He was on attachment to the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
"So in many ways, if you don't have eyes on to that arena, it does become a fairly imprecise science, which means that in many ways it's indiscriminate." Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "He was doing an important job with great skill and enthusiasm in challenging circumstances.
The MoD said that for operational security reasons it was unable to give any further details about the soldier's death. "I know he will be sorely missed by all who knew him."
It came on the same day that three RAF servicemen killed in a mortar attack on their Iraqi base on Thursday were named. There are currently 5,500 UK troops serving in Iraq
L/Cpl Flowers had already resigned from the Army by the time he arrived in Iraq.
His commander, Artificer Quarter Master Sergeant Lee, said: "It is testimony to the loyalty and courage of the man that he extended his service to see the job through, with his friends, regardless of his own personal situation."
He described L/Cpl Flowers as a "natural mechanic".
"He was at his happiest on the Tank Park, spanner in hand," he said.
"No job was too difficult or too much trouble. The diligent endeavour that he constantly displayed was as infectious as his cracking sense of humour."
L/Cpl Flowers' death came on the same day that three RAF servicemen killed in a mortar attack on their Iraqi base on Thursday were named.
They were Matthew Caulwell, Christopher Dunsmore and Peter McFerran, who were all Senior Aircraftsmen.They were Matthew Caulwell, Christopher Dunsmore and Peter McFerran, who were all Senior Aircraftsmen.