ALAN BRACKENBURYLance Corporal Alan Brackenbury, who died on 29 May, 2005, aged 21, was a talented soldier with The King's Royal Hussars.The Corporal was serving in Iraq as part of A Squadron 1 STAFFORDS battlegroup and was a hugely popular member of the team.Described by colleagues as selfless and dedicated, Lance Corporal Brackenbury impressed senior officers and locals alike with his attempt to learn Arabic in Iraq.He was a compassionate kind-hearted soldier who befriended Iraqi children and had a real impact on the lives of everyone he met.He had proved himself to be a gifted soldier and was appointed Lance Corporal aged only 20. He is the 88th British serviceman to die in Iraq. Lance Corporal Brackenbury was born and raised in Goole, East Riding, in Yorkshire.He joined the Army in 2000 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in 2005. On 29 May, 2005, Lance Corporal Brackenbury was travelling in the first of three patrol vehicles to meet with Iraqi Border Police in the Maysan region when an Improvised Explosive Device exploded.Lance Corporal Brackenbury died instantly in the attack, which also injured four of his colleagues. Later investigation revealed the bomb had been supplied by Iranian armed forces. The attack was the first piece of concrete evidence that Iran was involved with the Iraqi insurgents, prompting the US State Department to send accusations to Tehran citing Lance Corporal Brackenbury's death. Analysts believed that the attack contributed heavily to tensions between Iran and the West, which culminated in Tehran's capture of fifteen Navy personnel.Lance Corporal Brackenbury leaves behind his parents and two siblings, and his fiancee Kirsty, who had been planning their wedding while he was away.His father Stephen said: "Alan loved being in the Army - it was all he had ever wanted to do. He was immensely proud to be a soldier and we were immensely proud that he was a soldier. It is some comfort to us, as we grieve for Alan, that he died doing what he loved so much."Captain Anthony Sharman remembers his friend and colleague: "Alan made friends in all quarters, firstly because he was a committed professional but secondly, and most importantly, because he was a good person. He had a well developed sense of right and wrong and the moral courage to follow the just cause."Commanding Officer of the King's Royal Hussars, Lieutentant Colonel Toby Bridge, said: "Cpl Brackenbury lived life to the full.He had a passion for racing, football and fishing.Above all we will remember his tremendous sense of humour, and fun, and his willingness to try something new. He was definitely a man of the future."
Keep me informed of updates
