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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MoD names soldier killed in Basra | MoD names soldier killed in Basra |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A UK soldier killed in an attack at a base in Basra, southern Iraq, on Sunday has been named by the Ministry of Defence as L/Cpl Dennis Brady. | A UK soldier killed in an attack at a base in Basra, southern Iraq, on Sunday has been named by the Ministry of Defence as L/Cpl Dennis Brady. |
| The 37-year-old, from Cumbria, was a regular reservist from the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 1st Battalion of the Light Infantry. | The 37-year-old, from Cumbria, was a regular reservist from the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 1st Battalion of the Light Infantry. |
| He was hit in an "indirect fire attack" at the Shatt Al-Arab Hotel after mortars landed inside the UK base. | He was hit in an "indirect fire attack" at the Shatt Al-Arab Hotel after mortars landed inside the UK base. |
| His commanding officer said the battalion had lost a "real friend". | His commanding officer said the battalion had lost a "real friend". |
| The British military death toll in Iraq since March 2003 is now 119 - 90 of which were as a result of hostile action, according to the MoD. | |
| A British military spokesman in Basra said about 15 mortars had been fired at the base in Sunday's attack, with three or four landing inside the perimeter. | A British military spokesman in Basra said about 15 mortars had been fired at the base in Sunday's attack, with three or four landing inside the perimeter. |
| L/Cpl Brady was taken to hospital, where he later died. Another soldier suffered a broken arm in the attack, the spokesman said. | L/Cpl Brady was taken to hospital, where he later died. Another soldier suffered a broken arm in the attack, the spokesman said. |
| Due home | Due home |
| L/Cpl Brady grew up in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, where he lived with his wife, Zoe. | L/Cpl Brady grew up in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, where he lived with his wife, Zoe. |
| I was looking forward to having him home Brenda Brady | I was looking forward to having him home Brenda Brady |
| He left the regular Army in 2004 and worked as a firefighter before volunteering to return to the military as a reservist. | He left the regular Army in 2004 and worked as a firefighter before volunteering to return to the military as a reservist. |
| L/Cpl Brady's mother, Brenda, 72, said he had been due to return home in two weeks at the end of a six-month tour of duty. | L/Cpl Brady's mother, Brenda, 72, said he had been due to return home in two weeks at the end of a six-month tour of duty. |
| "I was looking forward to having him home," she said as she wept. "He was a lovely boy. | "I was looking forward to having him home," she said as she wept. "He was a lovely boy. |
| "It was my birthday on Saturday and he sent me flowers. There was a card saying, 'Happy Birthday love from Dennis'." | "It was my birthday on Saturday and he sent me flowers. There was a card saying, 'Happy Birthday love from Dennis'." |
| The following day, Mrs Brady learned her only son had been killed. | The following day, Mrs Brady learned her only son had been killed. |
| "He wanted to help people - that is why he was a medic," Mrs Brady added. | "He wanted to help people - that is why he was a medic," Mrs Brady added. |
| "He enjoyed the Army. He took part in lots of sport and was in the skiing team. | "He enjoyed the Army. He took part in lots of sport and was in the skiing team. |
| His passing will leave a gap in all our hearts Lt Col Johnny Bowron | His passing will leave a gap in all our hearts Lt Col Johnny Bowron |
| "He loved football. I used to tape all the matches for him when he was away so he could watch them when he came back." | "He loved football. I used to tape all the matches for him when he was away so he could watch them when he came back." |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col Johnny Bowron, said the loss of L/Cpl Brady would be "keenly felt". | His commanding officer, Lt Col Johnny Bowron, said the loss of L/Cpl Brady would be "keenly felt". |
| "The battalion has lost a trusted member and a real friend," he said. | "The battalion has lost a trusted member and a real friend," he said. |
| "In the relatively short time he had been with us he had become a full and trusted member of the battalion, admired by all he met and with that rare gift of universal popularity. | "In the relatively short time he had been with us he had become a full and trusted member of the battalion, admired by all he met and with that rare gift of universal popularity. |
| "He will be remembered for his calm and unflappable nature whatever the circumstance. | "He will be remembered for his calm and unflappable nature whatever the circumstance. |
| "This approach, coupled with a high level of medical competence, allowed the soldiers of D Company to carry out their duties secure in the knowledge that if the worst was to happen they were in safe hands. | "This approach, coupled with a high level of medical competence, allowed the soldiers of D Company to carry out their duties secure in the knowledge that if the worst was to happen they were in safe hands. |
| My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends Defence Secretary Des Browne | My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends Defence Secretary Des Browne |
| "L/Cpl Brady was armed with a dry sense of humour, and was always ready with a barrage of friendly banter, as well as always being prepared to offer brutally honest advice regardless of the recipient's rank - advice that was nearly always correct. | "L/Cpl Brady was armed with a dry sense of humour, and was always ready with a barrage of friendly banter, as well as always being prepared to offer brutally honest advice regardless of the recipient's rank - advice that was nearly always correct. |
| "This slightly gruff exterior masked a deep concern for his fellow soldiers and an abiding loyalty to his adopted military home. | "This slightly gruff exterior masked a deep concern for his fellow soldiers and an abiding loyalty to his adopted military home. |
| "He had a real and positive impact on those with whom he worked and his passing will leave a gap in all our hearts." | "He had a real and positive impact on those with whom he worked and his passing will leave a gap in all our hearts." |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of L/Cpl Brady. | Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of L/Cpl Brady. |
| "The British forces feel they are making a real difference in Iraq and L/Cpl Brady was part of this hugely important effort. | "The British forces feel they are making a real difference in Iraq and L/Cpl Brady was part of this hugely important effort. |
| "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends." | "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends." |