"There were two incidents near Al Amarah on 24 June resulting in British casualties.
Troops from 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, patrolling in the town of Al Majar Al Kabir came under fire. The patrol took one casualty and two vehicles were destroyed. In responding to the incident, an RAF Chinook helicopter carrying a Quick Reaction Force came under fire as it landed. Seven personnel aboard the helicopter were wounded, three of them seriously. All were extracted by helicopter and are receiving treatment.The MOD very much regret to confirm that the bodies of six soldiers from the Royal Military Police were recovered from the police station in the town. They are believed to have been killed in a separate incident.
The six Royal Military Policemen killed were:
Sergeant Simon Alexander Hamilton-Jewell, from Chessington
Corporal Russell Aston, from Swadlincote
Corporal Paul Graham Long, from Colchester
Corporal Simon Miller, from Washington, Tyne & Wear
Lance-Corporal Benjamin John McGowan Hyde, from Northallerton
Lance-Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, from Bala
The commanding officer of 156 Provost Company, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, said:
The loss of six soldiers from such a small, tight-knit unit as 156 Provost Company clearly comes as a dreadful shock to us all, not only the friends and families of those killed, but also all those in the Royal Military Police who knew and worked with them.
All these men were highly professional Soldiers and Policemen. Their deaths in action underlines the challenging and difficult operations that the RMP are asked to undertake both in peace and times of conflict.
From the oldest, aged 41, to the youngest, aged 20, these soldiers had between them a wealth of operational experience and distinguished service. You will understand that the circumstances surrounding this dreadful incident are still being investigated. At this time, our priority is giving all the support we can to the familes and friends who are having to cope with the loss of loved ones.
We ask our men and women to risk the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country, and it is the sad truth that sometimes that sacrifice comes to pass.
All six soldiers were extremely popular and well liked within the unit and they will be sadly missed by all of us.
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A civilian member of the Defence Fire Service died in hospital in the UK on 22 May, having fallen ill in the Gulf.
Mr Leonard Harvey