MOD -- It is with great regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Private Ryan Wrathall in Basra, Iraq, yesterday, Thursday 12 February 2009.

Private Wrathall was serving with 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment as part of 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) (Strike) Battle Group. He was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base having suffered a gunshot wound. Immediate medical assistance was provided, but sadly he died from his wounds.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 0630 hours local time, will be subject to a full investigation. No enemy forces were involved and there is no evidence to suggest that anyone else was involved.

Private Ryan Wrathall, aged 21, from Surbiton, Surrey, was serving in 1 Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) - known as 'The Armoured Tigers'.

He enlisted into the Army in November 2007 at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, prior to joining 1 PWRR in Paderborn, Germany, in June 2008.

MOD -- It is with immense sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Corporal Lee Churcher on Thursday 11 December 2008, while serving on operations in Basra, southern Iraq.

Cpl Churcher, who was serving with Headquarters 20th Armoured Brigade, was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base having suffered a gunshot wound. Immediate medical assistance was provided, but sadly he was declared dead at the scene.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 2200hrs local time, will be subject to a full investigation. No enemy forces were involved and there is no evidence to suggest that anyone else was involved.

Corporal Lee Churcher enlisted into the Army in June 1994 and, after completing his initial training, was posted to Terra Troop, 13 Squadron, 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic). Showing early technical flare, he was apparently well-suited to the Military Geographic field. Hard work and natural aptitude saw him rise rapidly through the ranks to Corporal, when he took the opportunity to move into the developing field of Information Technology (IT). His posting led him to a demanding job working as an Application Specialist with the Bowman Communications training team in the UK.

MOD -- It is with profound regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal David Kenneth Wilson on Thursday 4 December 2008, while serving on operations in Basra, southern Iraq.

LCpl Wilson, who was serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base having suffered a gunshot wound. Immediate medical assistance was provided, but sadly he was declared dead at the scene a short time later.

The incident, which occurred at 0900 hrs local time, will be subject to a full investigation. No enemy forces were involved and there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that anyone else was involved.

LCpl David Wilson, aged 27, was born in Huddersfield to Ian and Doreen Wilson. He joined the Army in August 2003, completing Phase 1 training at Army Training Regiment Pirbright in November that year. He moved to 668 (Training) Squadron at Middle Wallop for specific training as an Army Air Corps Ground Crewman before being posted to 9 Regiment Army Air Corps in his home county of Yorkshire.

The Sun -- AS heroes fought to pull two doomed comrades from a burning helicopter — THEN went on to raid a rebel hideout.

The special forces soldiers showed “awesome” courage and determination as they battled in vain to save their mates from the flames.

Within minutes of seeing their friends die the Who Dares Wins men got on with their mission, assaulting a compound and capturing two insurgent leaders.

The extraordinary events in Iraq, until now shrouded in secrecy, can be described by The Sun for the first time after we fought a seven-month legal battle to overturn an MoD ban.

The dead were Sergeant John Battersby, 31, formerly of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, and Trooper Lee Fitzsimmons, 26, an ex-Royal Marine.

The Press Association -- The mother of an SAS soldier who died in a Puma helicopter crash in Iraq has spoken of her "aching loss".

Lee Fitzsimmons, 26, from Peterborough was one of two SAS soldiers killed when the aircraft crashed in Baghdad last year.

He can be named for the first time after a court order was lifted.

The Puma came down near Salman Pak on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital on November 20 killing two and injuring 12.

His mother Jacqui Auty said she had been in "absolute hell" since his death.

In a statement released through solicitors McKay Law, she said: "The last few months have been absolute hell. Inside, I still can't believe that it has happened and that I'll never see or hold Lee again.

MOD -- It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Sergeant Duane 'Baz' Barwood, attached to 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, Royal Air Force on Friday 29 February 2008, as a result of a rocket attack on the Contingency Operating Base in Basra.

Sergeant Duane 'Baz' Barwood

Duane Barwood from Carterton, Oxfordshire, joined the Royal Air Force in 1985 as an RAF Regiment Gunner and later transferred to become a Motor Transport Driver. He was promoted to Sergeant within nine years in the trade, which is exceptional by any standard.

Sgt Barwood, 41, was based at RAF Brize Norton and attached to No 903 Expeditionary Air Wing.

He leaves behind his loving family: wife Sharon and two daughters, Leanna and Rebecca. Sgt Barwood’s family have made the following statement:

"Sgt Duane 'Baz' Barwood was a much loved husband, father and friend. Baz will be greatly missed by all those who knew him. He was a very proud and dedicated member of the Royal Air Force who gave his life for the job he loved."

MOD -- It is with deep sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Guardsman Stephen Ferguson 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Selly Oak Hospital yesterday, Thursday 13 December 2007.

Gdsm Ferguson was being treated in Selly Oak Hospital in the UK for injuries sustained in a non-battle incident whilst serving in Basra. He had been driving a Warrior Armoured Vehicle on a routine patrol north east of the UK military’s Contingency Operating Base near Basra City on the night of 12 December 2007.

His patrol was tasked with protecting his fellow Scots Guards and the Contingency Operating Base. Whilst manoeuvring in the dark, his Warrior slid into a canal. His fellow soldiers freed him from the vehicle and gave first aid. He was later flown back to the UK for medical treatment, but sadly he did not recover from his injuries.

Guardsman Stephen Ferguson

Originally from Lanarkshire and a keen supporter of Motherwell FC, Guardsman Stephen Ferguson was aged 31. He leaves behind his loving parents who have asked that members of the media respect their privacy at this difficult time. His parents said of him:

MOD -- The Ministry of Defence regrets to announce that Lance Corporal Sarah Holmes 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.

Lance Corporal Holmes was from 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment and was serving on Operation TELIC attached to 3 Logistic Support Regiment. She was working at the Al Udeid airfield when the car in which she was a passenger was involved in a collision with a truck.

Lance Corporal Holmes was taken by ambulance to hospital and from there back to the UK but unfortunately she later died from her injuries. Her next of kin were at her bedside. Lance Corporal Holmes, aged 26, was from Wantage, Oxfordshire and joined the Army in 1997. She had previously served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Kenya, and Poland.

MOD -- It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Sergeant Mark Stansfield who died yesterday, Friday 21 September 2007 in the UK, from injuries sustained in Iraq last week.

Sgt Stansfield, aged 32, was serving with 32 Close Support Squadron, UK Logistic Battalion, based in the Contingency Operating Base at Basra Air Station. On the morning of Wednesday 19 September 2007 he was conducting security checks of the Contingency Operating Base's Ammunition Supply Point when he was involved in an accident with a fork lift truck and was seriously injured.

First aid was administered to Sgt Stansfield immediately and he was taken to the Field Hospital at Basra Air Station where he underwent surgery. He was medically evacuated to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham the following day for further treatment. Tragically, Sgt Stansfield's condition deteriorated soon after his arrival in the UK. His family were with him at his bedside when he passed away.

Sergeant Mark Stansfield was born in 1974 and joined the Army in 1992 aged 17, when he trained to become a driver. He was very proud to be a member of the RLC. A very keen and enthusiastic soldier, he had always wanted to join up and serve his country. A keen football player, he took a passionate interest in the development of the football league table whilst on tour.

BBC News -- A British soldier serving with the Parachute Regiment killed in Iraq this week has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Sergeant Eddie Collins.

The MoD said he died on Wednesday during an operation "in support of ongoing coalition activity".

It has been reported that he was on a special forces mission and was a member of the Special Air Service (SAS).

Sgt Collins' commanding officer said he was "a champion soldier, a proud and loving family man and a great friend".

He added: "[Sgt Collins] always played to win and always set the finest example.

"He died a warrior, on the battlefield, leading from the front, doing a job he loved in the service of his friends, his regiment, his family and his country. He will never be forgotten."