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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Dead soldier 'father of regiment' | Dead soldier 'father of regiment' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A soldier killed in Iraq has been named as one of the Army's most experienced men, a major who served for 30 years. | A soldier killed in Iraq has been named as one of the Army's most experienced men, a major who served for 30 years. |
| Maj Paul Harding, a company commander in the 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in Basra. | Maj Paul Harding, a company commander in the 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in Basra. |
| The 48-year-old, of Winchester, Hampshire, died after coming under a mortar fire attack while securing a route for a supply convoy. | |
| Married with two sons, Maj Harding was described as "one of the fathers of the regiment". | Married with two sons, Maj Harding was described as "one of the fathers of the regiment". |
| "Professional excellence" | "Professional excellence" |
| Maj Harding served as a rifleman for 30 years, first in the Royal Green Jackets and more recently in the Rifles following Army restructuring. | Maj Harding served as a rifleman for 30 years, first in the Royal Green Jackets and more recently in the Rifles following Army restructuring. |
| During his three decades of duty, he had done the job of every soldier under his command, "and had done it better than any of them", his commanding officer Lt Col Patrick Sanders said. | During his three decades of duty, he had done the job of every soldier under his command, "and had done it better than any of them", his commanding officer Lt Col Patrick Sanders said. |
| Maj Harding arrived in Basra less than a month before he was killed. He was working as chief of staff, responsible for the daily running of the organisation in the city. | Maj Harding arrived in Basra less than a month before he was killed. He was working as chief of staff, responsible for the daily running of the organisation in the city. |
| Lt Col Sanders said: "The Rifles lost one of its most senior, long-serving and admired Riflemen, and the country lost a veteran soldier of deep personal integrity, professional excellence, wisdom, experience and simple decency." | Lt Col Sanders said: "The Rifles lost one of its most senior, long-serving and admired Riflemen, and the country lost a veteran soldier of deep personal integrity, professional excellence, wisdom, experience and simple decency." |
| We have lost a close friend, an outstanding leader, an exemplary Rifleman and a remarkable and decent man Lt Col Patrick Sanders Tribute to fallen comrade | We have lost a close friend, an outstanding leader, an exemplary Rifleman and a remarkable and decent man Lt Col Patrick Sanders Tribute to fallen comrade |
| He added: "His family have lost a husband, father, brother, son and friend and their grief will be inconsolable. Truly the thoughts and prayers of every single Rifleman in the Battalion are with them in their hour of need and beyond." | He added: "His family have lost a husband, father, brother, son and friend and their grief will be inconsolable. Truly the thoughts and prayers of every single Rifleman in the Battalion are with them in their hour of need and beyond." |
| Colonel Sanders said Major Harding led by example and was in the most dangerous position when the convoy was attacked. | Colonel Sanders said Major Harding led by example and was in the most dangerous position when the convoy was attacked. |
| "It was typical of him, he would never ask a Riflemen to do something he wouldn't do himself and wanting to minimise the risk to his men, placed himself in danger. | "It was typical of him, he would never ask a Riflemen to do something he wouldn't do himself and wanting to minimise the risk to his men, placed himself in danger. |
| "My desk is covered with short handwritten tributes from his Riflemen. They are unbearably moving and speak volumes for the love and respect Paul inspired." | "My desk is covered with short handwritten tributes from his Riflemen. They are unbearably moving and speak volumes for the love and respect Paul inspired." |
| He added: "We have lost a close friend, an outstanding leader, an exemplary Rifleman and a remarkable and decent man. But we are not bowed or beaten by his loss. Instead we stand a little taller today than yesterday. | He added: "We have lost a close friend, an outstanding leader, an exemplary Rifleman and a remarkable and decent man. But we are not bowed or beaten by his loss. Instead we stand a little taller today than yesterday. |
| "The resilience, determination, professionalism, decency and compassion, pride, good humour and fighting spirit that I see in the eyes of this Battalion, despite the losses we have suffered, these things are Paul's legacy." | "The resilience, determination, professionalism, decency and compassion, pride, good humour and fighting spirit that I see in the eyes of this Battalion, despite the losses we have suffered, these things are Paul's legacy." |
| The latest death takes the number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to a total of 152. | The latest death takes the number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to a total of 152. |