As at 12 February 2009, a total of 179 British Armed Forces personnel or MOD civilians have died serving on Operation TELIC since the start of the campaign in March 2003.

Of these, 136 were killed as a result of hostile action.

43 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation.

The balance of these figures may change as inquests are concluded. A more detailed breakdown of fatalities and casualties can be found here.

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Private Ryan Wrathall from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment died at Basra's Contingency Operating Base on Thursday 12 February 2009.

Corporal Lee Churcher serving with 20th Armoured Brigade died at Basra's Contingency Operating Base on Thursday 11 December 2008.

Lance Corporal David Kenneth Wilson serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps died at Basra's Contingency Operating Base on Thursday 4 December 2008.

Sergeant Duane 'Baz' Barwood, attached to 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, Royal Air Force died as a result of a rocket attack on the Contingency Operating Base in Basra on Friday 29 February 2008.

Guardsman Stephen Ferguson 1st Battalion Scots Guards, aged 31, from Lanarkshire, died in Selly Oak Hospital in the UK from injuries sustained in a non-battle incident near the Contingency Operating Base in Basra.

Two service personnel were killed when an RAF Puma helicopter crashed near Baghdad on Tuesday 20 November 2007.

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Lance Corporal Sarah Holmes, from 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment and serving on Operation TELIC attached to 3 Logistic Support Regiment died in the UK on 14 October 2007 from injuries that she sustained in a road traffic accident in Al Udeid, Qatar, on 3 October 2007.

Sergeant Mark Stansfield of 32 Close Support Squadron, UK Logistic Battalion died on Friday 21 September 2007 in the UK, from injuries sustained in Iraq on 19 September 2007.

Sergeant Eddie Collins from the Parachute Regiment was killed in Iraq on Wednesday 5 September 2007.

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of Lance Sergeant Chris Casey and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards in southern Iraq on Thursday 9 August 2007.

Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard of No 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, was killed in Basra, southern Iraq on Tuesday 7 August 2007.

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Private Craig Barber of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh died after coming under attack from small arms fire in the Al Fursi district of Basra City on Monday 6 August 2007.

Corporal Steve Edwards 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was killed when his Warrior Armoured Vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device during a patrol in Basra City on Tuesday 31 July 2007.

Lance Corporal Timothy Darren Flowers from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers died as a result of an indirect fire attack on the Basra Palace base in Basra City on Saturday 21 July 2007.

Senior Aircraftman Matthew Caulwell, Senior Aircraftman Christopher Dunsmore and Senior Aircraftman Peter McFerran were killed when their base in southern Iraq came under rocket attack on Thursday 19 July 2007.

Corporal Christopher Read, of 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, died as a result of injuries that he sustained during a large scale operation in the early hours of the morning, Saturday 7 July 2007.

Lance Corporal Ryan Francis 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh died during a large scale operation in Basra City in the early hours of the morning, Saturday 7 July 2007.

Rifleman Edward Vakabua, aged 23, from 4th Battalion The Rifles died at the Basra Palace base in Basra City, southern Iraq on Friday 6 July 2007.

Three soldiers died in Basra, southern Iraq following a roadside bomb attack on the morning of Thursday 28 June 2007.

Corporal John Rigby 4th Battalion The Rifles, aged 24, from Rye, died from injuries sustained by a roadside bomb attack in Basra on Friday 22 June 2007.

Major Paul Harding 4th Battalion The Rifles killed in Iraq died as a result of an indirect fire attack on the Provincial Joint Coordination Centre in Basra in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday 20 June 2007.

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Lance Corporal James Cartwright of Badger Squadron, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died following a vehicle accident in Southern Iraq at around 0100hrs on the morning of 16 June 2007.

Corporal Rodney Wilson, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed during a search and detention operation in the Al Atiyah district, north west of Basra City on Thursday 7 June 2007

Corporal Jeremy Brookes, 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a small arms fire attack whilst on a routine patrol in the Al Tuwaysa district of Basra City on Monday 21 May 2007.

Private Kevin Thompson, Royal Logistic Corps, was very seriously injured when a vehicle he was travelling on in Basra was struck by an improvised explosive device attack. He was flown back to the UK but sadly died from his injuries on Sunday 6 May 2007.

Major Nick Bateson, Royal Corps of Signals, was killed in a road traffic accident in Basra, southern Iraq, on Tuesday 1 May 2007.

Rifleman Paul Donnachie, 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) was killed in a small arms fire attack whilst on a routine patrol in the Al Ashar district, east of central Basra, on Sunday 29 April 2007.

Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died when his Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle Platoon came under small arms fire on Monday 23 April 2007.

Corporal Ben Leaning and Trooper Kristen Turton, both of the The Queen's Royal Lancers were killed when their Scimitar Armoured Reconnaissance vehicle was hit by an IED in Maysan Province, Southern Iraq, on Thursday 19 April 2007.

Colour Sergeant M L Powell, of the Parachute Regiment, and Sergeant Mark J McLaren, RAF, were killed when two Puma helicopters crashed in Iraq on Sunday 15 April 2007.

Four British servicemen and women, and a local civilian interpreter, were killed in a roadside bomb attack west of Basra on 5 April 2007.

Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles died as a result of injuries sustained during a patrol in Basra City, Iraq on Monday 2 April 2007.

Kingsman Wilson, aged 28, of the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died as a result of injuries sustained during a patrol in Basra City on 1 April 2007.

Private Johnathon Dany Wysoczan, First Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment, died in the UK on Saturday 3 March 2007 from injuries sustained during a patrol in Basra, Iraq.

Rifleman Daniel Lee Coffey, C Company, Second Battalion The Rifles, died as a result of injuries sustained during a patrol in north Basra, Iraq on Tuesday 27 February 2007.

Private Luke Daniel Simpson, 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, died on Friday 9 February 2007 as a result of injuries sustained when the vehicle he was driving was hit by a roadside bomb.

Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, 24, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died on Monday 5 February 2007 as a result of injuries sustained by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack against his patrol in the As Sarraji District of Basra City.

Private Michael Tench, aged 18, of A Company, 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry, died on Sunday 21 January 2007, as a result of injuries sustained from an Improvised Explosive Device placed at a roadside in Basrah City, Southern Iraq.

Kingsman Alexander William Green was killed in Iraq on Saturday 13 January 2007. He died as a result of injuries sustained earlier in the morning when shot by small arms fire whilst on a task in the Hayy Al Muhandisn District of Basra City.

Sergeant Wayne Rees, from The Queen's Royal Lancers died following a road traffic accident in southern Iraq on Sunday 7 January 2007.

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Sergeant Graham Hesketh, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed on Thursday 28 December 2006 during a routine patrol in Basra City.

Sergeant Jonathan Hollingsworth, from the Parachute Regiment, died following a planned search and detention operation in Basra City, on Thursday 23 November 2006.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Hopkins, Royal Corps of Signals, Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott of the Intelligence Corps, Corporal Ben Nowak of 45 Commando Royal Marines and Marine Jason Hylton of 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines were killed in an attack on a Multi-National Forces boat patrol on the Shatt Al-Arab waterway in Basra city, on Sunday 12 November 2006.

Kingsman Jamie Lee Hancock of 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died as a result of injuries sustained during small arms fire against a Coalition Forces Base in Basra on Monday 6 November 2006.

Lieutenant Tom Tanswell of 58 (Eyre's) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery died as a result of a road traffic accident just outside Shaibah Logistics Base, near Basrah, on Friday 27 October 2006.

Lance Corporal Dennis Brady died as a result of wounds received from a mortar round fired at his base in northern Basra on the afternoon of Sunday 1 October 2006.

Gunner Lee Thornton, of 58 (Eyre's) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, died on Thursday 7 September 2006 as a result of injuries sustained in a shooting incident in the town of Al Qurna, Iraq on Tuesday 5 September 2006.

Two British soldiers were killed on Monday 4 September 2006 near the town of Ad Dayr, north of Basrah City when their patrol was subject to an attack by a roadside bomb and small arms fire.

Corporal Matthew Cornish of 1st Battalion the Light Infantry died as a result of wounds sustained during a mortar attack on 1 August 2006.

Corporal John Johnston Cosby died on Sunday 16 July 2006 as a result of gunshot wounds following an operation by British Forces to apprehend a key terrorist leader and accomplice in a suburb of North Basra.

Two Soldiers from the Queen's Dragoon Guards were killed in an attack by an improvised explosive device in Basra on 28 May 2006.

Private Joseva Lewaicei and Private Adam Morris, of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, died as a result of injuries sustained from a roadside bomb in Basra City, Southern Iraq, on 13 May 2006.

Five personnel died when a Lynx helicopter crashed in Basra City on Saturday 6 May 2006.

Lieutenant Richard Palmer of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards died from injuries sustained in a roadside bomb attack on 15 April 2006.

Captain Richard Holmes and Private Lee Ellis of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were killed in Al Amarah on Tuesday 28 February 2006.

Trooper Carl Smith of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) died on 2 February 2006, as a result of a vehicle accident whilst on operations in Abu Al Khasib, south of Basra, Iraq.

Corporal Gordon Alexander Pritchard, from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, died from injuries sustained as a result of an explosion on 31 January 2006, in Um Qasr, Iraq. Corporal Pritchard was commanding the lead Snatch Landrover in a three-vehicle convoy when the incident occured.

Lance Corporal Allan Douglas was shot and mortally wounded whilst on a routine patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq on 30 January 2006. Despite the best efforts of his comrades and the medical teams he later died of his wounds.

Sergeant John Jones of the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died on 20 November 2005 as a result of injuries sustained from a roadside bomb at approximately 1230 hrs local time in Basra, Iraq. He was on a routine patrol as the commander when the incident occurred.

Sergeant Chris Hickey of 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards died as a result of injuries sustained from a roadside bomb at approximately 2320 hrs local time in Basra, Iraq, on Tuesday 18 October 2005.

The body of Captain Ken Masters, aged 40 was discovered in his accommodation in Waterloo Lines, Basra, Iraq on Saturday 15 October 2005.

At approximately 1100 hrs local time on 11 September 2005, an armoured SNATCH landrover was attacked in Basrah City by an improvised explosive device. Major Matthew Bacon was killed in the explosion. Three other British soldiers, also travelling in the vehicle, were seriously injured.

On the morning of 5 September 2005, 20 year old Fusilier Donal Anthony Meade, from Plumstead in South East London, and 22 year old Fusilier Stephen Robert Manning, from Erith in Kent, died as a result of wounds sustained during a patrol near Az Zubayr, Basrah province, Iraq.

Second Lieutenant Richard Shearer, Private Leon Spicer and Private Phillip Hewett of C Company, The 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment were killed when a patrol of three armoured Snatch Land-Rovers was engaged by an Improvised Explosive Device in the early hours of Saturday morning 16 July 2005 in Al Amarah.

Signaller Paul William Didsbury, a soldier with 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support), died at Basra on the morning of Wednesday 29 June 2005. He was serving on a roulement tour with the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq).

Lance Corporal Alan Brackenbury of The King's Royal Hussars died in the early hours of Sunday 29 May 2005, during an incident to the South of Al Amarah, Iraq.

Guardsman Anthony John Wakefield died during the early hours of Monday 2 May 2005 as a result of wounds sustained during a routine patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq.

A British soldier was found dead in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station on Monday 28 March 2005. An investigation is underway, and his death is not thought to have been the result of hostile action.

An RAF C-130K Hercules crashed 30 kilometres north-west of Baghdad on Sunday 30 January 2005 at approximately 1635 local time. The aircraft was on a flight between Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase. Ten UK Service personnel are missing believed killed; nine from the Royal Air Force and one from the Army. Their repatriation to RAF Lyneham commenced on the afternoon of Monday 7 February 2005, being flown out from Basrah with full honours.

The findings of the Board of Inquiry into the loss of RAF Hercules XV179 were published on 8 December 2005:

A British soldier was found dead from a gunshot wound at Shaibah Logistic Base on Sunday 26 December 2004. Hostile action is not thought to be responsible. The Royal Military Police investigation continues, but initial inquiries do not suggest suspicious circumstances.

At 1830 local on Monday 8 November 2004, a Warrior armoured vehicle from the Black Watch Battle Group was hit by a roadside bomb north of Camp Dogwood. The Warrior left the road, its wheels destroyed on one side, and one soldier was killed and two others injured - neither seriously. The injured men were taken by a US helicopter medevac team to a military hospital in Baghdad; and the damaged Warrior was subsequently recovered to Camp Dogwood.

Three British soldiers were killed, and others injured, in a suicide car-bomb attack on a vehicle check-point within the Black Watch area of operations on Thursday 4 November 2004. An Iraqi interpreter was also killed, and eight soldiers were wounded.

A soldier from The Black Watch died, and a further three suffered minor injuries and shock, in a road traffic accident in North Babil province on Friday 29 October 2004.

Two British soldiers died following the ambush of a military convoy south-west of Basrah on Tuesday 28 September 2004. An armoured Land Rover was badly damaged, and as troops sought to extract the casualties, they came under small arms fire.

A British soldier died in a road traffic accident near Al Amarah on Friday 10 September 2004.

A British soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with insurgents in Basrah on Tuesday 17 August 2004.

A British soldier was killed and another seriously injured by an improvised explosive device attack in Basrah on Thursday 12 August 2004.

A soldier was killed, and several others were injured, in an attack on British vehicles in Basrah on Monday 9 August 2004.

A British soldier was killed in an accident at Al Amarah on Wednesday 4 August 2004.

A British airman was killed when an RAF Puma helicopter suffered an accident at Basrah International Airport on Monday 19 July 2004.

A British soldier was killed, and two injured, in an improvised explosive device attack on British vehicles in Basrah on the morning of Monday 28 June 2004.

A British soldier was fatally injured in a vehicle accident at Shaibah Logistics Base on the morning of Thursday 12 February 2004.

A soldier died in a tragic accident in Basrah on Saturday 31 January 2004.

A British soldier was killed, and another injured, in a road traffic accident at Al Amarah on Wednesday 21 January 2004.

A British Serviceman died following a tragic incident on a training range near Basrah on the morning of Wednesday 7 January 2004.

Two British soldiers were killed in a road traffic accident in Baghdad early on Thursday 1 January 2004.

A British Serviceman was killed in a road traffic accident in Basrah on Thursday 6 November 2003.

A Royal Marines NCO was killed by hostile fire during an operation on Friday 31 October 2003.

A Territorial Army soldier died in a tragic incident on Tuesday 23 September 2003 whilst serving at Shaibah near Basrah.

A British soldier was killed and another wounded in an incident in Ali As Sharqi in southern Iraq on Wednesday 27 August 2003.

Three soldiers from the Royal Military Police were killed, and one seriously wounded, during an incident in central Basrah on the morning of Saturday 23 August 2003.

A British serviceman was killed, and two wounded, during a bomb attack on a military ambulance in Basrah on Thursday 14 August 2003.

A Territorial Army soldier died on Wednesday 13 August 2003 in southern Iraq. The cause of his death is under investigation but was not the result of hostile action.

An Army officer collapsed and died on Friday 18 July 2003 in southern Iraq.

Six Royal Military Policemen were killed in an incident at Al Majar Al Kabir on Tuesday 24 June 2003. The Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon MP, updated the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 July 2003 on the information available concerning this incident, and another in the same area which resulted in Service personnel sustaining wounds.

The six Royal Military Policemen who died were:

A civilian member of the Defence Fire Service died in hospital in the UK on Thursday 22 May 2003, having fallen ill in the Gulf.

An RAF Policeman died in Kuwait on Monday 19 May 2003, believed to be from natural causes.

An RAF Regiment Gunner died in hospital in the UK on Thursday 8 May 2003, following injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Iraq.

A soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, died in an accident in Iraq on Tuesday 6 May 2003.

A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Iraq on Wednesday 30 April 2003.

A soldier was killed in action in Basrah on Sunday 6 April 2003.

In a separate incident, two other soldiers were killed in action in Basrah later the same day.

A soldier was killed in an accident involving a light armoured vehicle on Tuesday 1 April 2003. An officer died in hospital in the UK on Tuesday 22 April 2003 from injuries sustained in the accident.

A soldier was killed in southern Iraq on Monday 31 March 2003 during an explosive ordnance disposal operation.

A soldier was killed in a road traffic accident in Kuwait on Sunday 30 March 2003.

A Royal Marine was killed in action during fighting in the area of Basrah on Sunday 30 March 2003.

On Sunday 30 March 2003, a Royal Marine officer died of natural causes.

A British soldier was killed in an incident involving light armoured vehicles of D Squadron, The Blues & Royals, on Friday 28 March 2003. Four others were injured. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.

The soldier killed was:

On Tuesday 25 March 2003, two soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers were killed when their Challenger 2 tank was accidentally hit by another Challenger 2 during a period of multiple engagements with Iraqi enemy forces. The two men have been named as:

On Monday 24 March 2003, a soldier from 1st Battalion The Black Watch was killed in action near Al Zubayr.

A soldier was killed in action near Az Zubayr near Basrah on Monday 24 March 2003.

Two British soldiers were reported missing, later confirmed as killed, after an attack on British military vehicles in southern Iraq on Sunday 23 March 2003.

On Saturday 22 March 2003, an RAF GR4 Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham, which was returning from an operational mission, was engaged near the Kuwaiti border by a Patriot missile battery. Both aircrew were killed.

The Military Aircraft Accident Summary reporting the investigation of this fatal incident was published on 14 May 2004. Click here for a direct link to the MAAS report.

At around 0130 GMT on Saturday 22 March 2003, two Royal Navy Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Early Warning helicopters collided over the northern Arabian Gulf. There were no survivors from the six British and one US crew members aboard. The incident was not the result of enemy action.

At around midnight GMT on Friday 21 March 2003, a US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border with US and UK personnel aboard; there were no survivors. Eight personnel from 3 Commando Brigade died in the accident, along with four US aircrew.

Acting Chief Petty Officer Simon Roger Owen, aged 38 from Plymouth, died from natural causes aboard HMS Chatham, during a deployment to the Gulf, on Friday 17 December 2004. Although initial reports associated A/CPO Owen's death with operations in Iraq, HMS Chatham was not assigned to or engaged in Operation TELIC at that time, and his name has not been included in the total for operations in Iraq.

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This article has 9 comments

My brother died in May 2007 and is still sadly missed by his friands and family, we think of him everyday and is always in out thought love you private kevin lee thompson xx

By Jade Thompson. Posted October 12 2009 at 4:05 PM.

our son lcpl allan douglas was killed on 30th jan 2006.we miss him so much it just feels like it happened yesterday the pain never goes away r.i.p. allan god bless all the fallen heroes

By diane douglas. Posted August 30 2009 at 10:36 AM.

All of our fallen in H.M.F. are hero's,they have paid the highest price with their life.Just on another note though,how disgusting can the mod get wanting to cut the awards our H.M.F get through injury's.Come on the sun+newsoftheworld help our forces to stop this.
geordie 2539 ex army 23 yrs.

By Thomas Carr. Posted July 26 2009 at 7:25 AM.

my son one of the youngest soldiers last infantry man of the 2LI to pay the ultimate sacrifice for queen and country gone and never forgotten he walks with me daily RIP to all his fallen colleagues xx much loved and sorely missed by all family and friends

By Janice Murray. Posted July 10 2009 at 11:15 PM.

LEE HOPKINS (HOPPY)
i am the cousin of lee hopkins he is missed more and more everyday. I grew up with lee we concidered each other as brother and sister. I couldnt be more proud of him he was the best man i ever known and is my true HERO. R.I.P aways and forever in my heart. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

By hayley lewis. Posted July 5 2009 at 6:48 PM.

My newphew, Christopher Dunsmore, was killed the day before he was due to fly home on leave to celebrate his 30th birthday. Our family tragedy is just one of so many. Please support armed forces day to recognise the bravery of all our soldiers and support them and their families.

By Alison Farrant. Posted July 2 2009 at 12:14 PM.

My best friend Wayne " Mave " Rees was such a well loved member of the regiment, a loving family man who adored his children and his family and his girlfriend Jane.Mave was by far the cock of north and either love him or hate him you couldnt resist the irresistable spell that he cast over everyone, be it trooper or colonel.If it wasnt his hypnotic humour or constant barricking there was something that magnetised you to him.A real mans man, you cant tell a tale without including his name somewhere down the line.I really miss the guy i miss our chats and his advice he was allways there when you needed him and if you wasnt wearing threads he approved of he wouldnt hang around in letting you know that you'd gone quote " from chique to geek in less than a week ".A dearly missed mucka god rest your soul Mave.Love allways not a day passes when i dont think about you.You made me the man i am today and i thank you for that.Death or Glory.

Butcherella Rockerfella


By Darren " Butch " Coulson. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:09 PM.

Colour Sergeant Chris McDonald,1st.Battalion Royal Irish Regiment,killed in Mosul on March 28th.2004.
Sadly missed by his friends and family.
Rest in peace with all fallen comerades.

By Geoff Sloan. Posted June 28 2009 at 2:09 PM.

my nephew died on 16 june 2007.it has been 2 years now and is still sadley missed by family and friends.his name is james cartwright he was in 2rtr royal tank regiment loved so much by is family.r.i.p all fallen soldiers.

By fred pratley. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:28 PM.

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