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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Soldier who shot himself named | Soldier who shot himself named |
| (2 days later) | |
| A British soldier who died after shooting himself at a base in Iraq has been named by the Ministry of Defence. | A British soldier who died after shooting himself at a base in Iraq has been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, suffered a gunshot wound at the contingency operating base in Basra on Thursday. | Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, suffered a gunshot wound at the contingency operating base in Basra on Thursday. |
| The Royal Military Police has launched an investigation into his death. | The Royal Military Police has launched an investigation into his death. |
| His death came just seven days after Lance Corporal David Wilson, 27, from County Durham, shot himself at the same base. | |
| Defence Secretary John Hutton said his thoughts were with the dead soldier's loved ones. | Defence Secretary John Hutton said his thoughts were with the dead soldier's loved ones. |
| 'Larger than life' | 'Larger than life' |
| Cpl Churcher was serving with 20th Armoured Brigade and had been in the Armed Forces for 14 years. | Cpl Churcher was serving with 20th Armoured Brigade and had been in the Armed Forces for 14 years. |
| The father-of-two was a keen rugby player and cricketer, and worked in surveillance and reconnaissance, controlling unmanned aircraft. | The father-of-two was a keen rugby player and cricketer, and worked in surveillance and reconnaissance, controlling unmanned aircraft. |
| Major Chris Bell, 20th Armoured Brigade's chief of staff, said: "Corporal Churcher was held in great affection by those who knew him. | Major Chris Bell, 20th Armoured Brigade's chief of staff, said: "Corporal Churcher was held in great affection by those who knew him. |
| "He had a relaxed confidence and had risen to the challenges of working within a vital team and delivering a key capability to this operational theatre. | "He had a relaxed confidence and had risen to the challenges of working within a vital team and delivering a key capability to this operational theatre. |
| "Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family, particularly his two young children to whom he was very close." | "Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family, particularly his two young children to whom he was very close." |
| His colleague and friend, Corporal James Williams, said: "When I arrived at my new post I was greeted by Lee's friendly, smiling face. | His colleague and friend, Corporal James Williams, said: "When I arrived at my new post I was greeted by Lee's friendly, smiling face. |
| "I looked up to him - he was a larger than life personality who I felt comfortable to be around." | "I looked up to him - he was a larger than life personality who I felt comfortable to be around." |
| Last week, L/Cpl David Wilson, of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, died in similar circumstances from a gunshot wound to the head. | Last week, L/Cpl David Wilson, of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, died in similar circumstances from a gunshot wound to the head. |
| L/Cpl Wilson was the first UK military fatality in Iraq since March. | L/Cpl Wilson was the first UK military fatality in Iraq since March. |