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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Father gets card after Iraq death | Father gets card after Iraq death |
| (1 day later) | |
| A father whose son was killed in southern Iraq received a birthday card from him two days after he had died. | A father whose son was killed in southern Iraq received a birthday card from him two days after he had died. |
| Peter McFerran, 24, from Flintshire was one of three RAF servicemen who died in a mortar attack on a base in Basra. | Peter McFerran, 24, from Flintshire was one of three RAF servicemen who died in a mortar attack on a base in Basra. |
| His father, Robert McFerran, who spent 10 years in the RAF himself, said he broke down as he opened the card at his home in Connah's Quay. | His father, Robert McFerran, who spent 10 years in the RAF himself, said he broke down as he opened the card at his home in Connah's Quay. |
| Senior Aircraftman McFerran was in 1 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Honington near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. | |
| Mr McFerran received his son's card on Saturday, on it he had written the RAF Regiment motto, Per Ardua, which is Latin for "through adversity". | Mr McFerran received his son's card on Saturday, on it he had written the RAF Regiment motto, Per Ardua, which is Latin for "through adversity". |
| We would go and see rugby together when we could Robert McFerran, father | We would go and see rugby together when we could Robert McFerran, father |
| He had also written: "Dear Dad, see you in September, love Peter". | He had also written: "Dear Dad, see you in September, love Peter". |
| Mr McFerran said: "I was opening various cards from well-wishers today (Saturday) and I just thought it was another one. | Mr McFerran said: "I was opening various cards from well-wishers today (Saturday) and I just thought it was another one. |
| "I nearly had a heart attack when I realised it was from Peter." | "I nearly had a heart attack when I realised it was from Peter." |
| SAC McFerran had been home for two weeks leave last month. | SAC McFerran had been home for two weeks leave last month. |
| Mr McFerran and his wife Ann had last seen him on 22 June, when he returned to Iraq with his regiment. | Mr McFerran and his wife Ann had last seen him on 22 June, when he returned to Iraq with his regiment. |
| The Wales rugby fan had organised tickets so that he and his dad could travel to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in September to see Wales play Japan in a world cup match. | The Wales rugby fan had organised tickets so that he and his dad could travel to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in September to see Wales play Japan in a world cup match. |
| "He would ring us up," Mr McFerran said. "The last time I spoke to him he was a bit fed up really. He was tired because he had been on duty. | "He would ring us up," Mr McFerran said. "The last time I spoke to him he was a bit fed up really. He was tired because he had been on duty. |
| "He had arranged for us to go and see a Wales rugby world cup match when he came back. | "He had arranged for us to go and see a Wales rugby world cup match when he came back. |
| They were all exceptional and talented young men whose professionalism and selfless commitment will not be forgotten Defence Secretary Des Browne | They were all exceptional and talented young men whose professionalism and selfless commitment will not be forgotten Defence Secretary Des Browne |
| "When he rang he said that we were going to see Wales v Japan because he had been unable to get tickets for the match against Australia. | "When he rang he said that we were going to see Wales v Japan because he had been unable to get tickets for the match against Australia. |
| "We were both hoping that Wales would win. | "We were both hoping that Wales would win. |
| "We would go and see rugby together when we could." | "We would go and see rugby together when we could." |
| SAC McFerran attended Dee Road Infants School and then the Custom House School in Connah's Quay, before he moved to the Mold Alyn High School. | SAC McFerran attended Dee Road Infants School and then the Custom House School in Connah's Quay, before he moved to the Mold Alyn High School. |
| He then attended Deeside College and his great love was sport, particularly rugby and hockey. | He then attended Deeside College and his great love was sport, particularly rugby and hockey. |
| He would also go to the gym two or three times a week and had fitness trainer before he joined the RAF. | He would also go to the gym two or three times a week and had fitness trainer before he joined the RAF. |
| SAC McFerren was the heavy machine gun operator for his unit. | SAC McFerren was the heavy machine gun operator for his unit. |
| "Peter was very, very fit. He really was extremely fit," his father said. | "Peter was very, very fit. He really was extremely fit," his father said. |
| "He joined the RAF at 21. It was always what he was going to do." | "He joined the RAF at 21. It was always what he was going to do." |
| Mr McFerran said that the present tour of duty in Iraq was his son's second. | Mr McFerran said that the present tour of duty in Iraq was his son's second. |
| "This was his second tour and he was due back home in September. | "This was his second tour and he was due back home in September. |
| "He had already done six months out there a year ago." | "He had already done six months out there a year ago." |
| Along with SAC McFerran, Matthew Caulwell from Birmingham and Christopher Dunsmore from Leicester, were the others who died in the rocket attack. | |
| All three had been on a break from duties at a base in Basra when it was hit. | All three had been on a break from duties at a base in Basra when it was hit. |
| 'Commitment' | 'Commitment' |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne paid tribute to the three men, saying: "They were all exceptional and talented young men whose professionalism and selfless commitment will not be forgotten. | Defence Secretary Des Browne paid tribute to the three men, saying: "They were all exceptional and talented young men whose professionalism and selfless commitment will not be forgotten. |
| "My heartfelt condolences go out to their partners, families, friends and colleagues in Iraq at this most painful and difficult of times," he said. | |
| The total number of British service personnel killed in Iraq is 163, with 127 of those killed in combat. | The total number of British service personnel killed in Iraq is 163, with 127 of those killed in combat. |