JOANNA YORKE DYERDescribed by her peers as "an enthusiastic and charming officer" who quickly made her mark in Iraq as part of the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Battle Group, Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer died on 5 April, 2007.The 24-year-old was one of four British personnel killed following a roadside bomb attack in the city of Basra. Adam James Smith , Eleanor Dlugoszand Kris O'Neill were also killed in the blast, as well as a local Kuwaiti translator and seriously injured a fifth soldier.A close friend of Prince William, who was reportedly "deeply saddened to hear the tragic news" of her death, she trained at Sandhurst and was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Intelligence Corps attached to the 2nd Battalion."Jo was keen to get the most out of her attachment and was soon developing a wide ranging portfolio of skills," an MoD statement read. "These skills enabled her to be tasked with supporting the planning and conduct of ground operations alongside the other officers and Kingsmen of the Battalion."Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer was born in Berlin in 1983. Known as "Jo", she graduated from Oxford University with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics, before going on to officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst."From a very early stage it was evident that Jo was a talented and energetic officer who was determined to make the most of her deployment to Iraq," her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon said.The Yeovil-based soldier, also a keen and talented hockey player, quickly became a popular member of her Sandhurst Platoon.In 2006, however, she was commissioned into the Intelligence Corps and, attached to the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, dispatched to Iraq in order to gain operational experience on operation TELIC 9.After completing her Young Officer Training, Second Lieutenant Yorke Dyer quickly made her mark as the Battalion's ISTAR officer, a post normally reserved for more experienced soldiers."Her enthusiasm was boundless and her contribution to our operations, even within a few short weeks, was invaluable," continued Lieutenant Officer Kenyon. "We very quickly came to think of her as one of us."On 5 April, 2007, however, tragedy struck in the west of Basra City when an "Improvised Explosive Device" exploded underneath the Warrior Armoured Vehicle in which Second Lieutenant Yorke Dyer, her four fellow soldiers and a local civilian interpreter were travelling.Second Lieutenant Yorke Dyer, as well as the interpreter and all but three of her fellow four soldiers, were killed in the blast, which left a three-foot crater. A fifth injured soldier was rushed to the military hospital in Basra for treatment.The incident brought the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 140."Jo was a genuinely selfless person who seized every chance to get involved," said a colleague from the Battle Group. "She had a thirst for knowledge and really wanted to experience all she could, whether it was in the office or on the ground with the soldiers."To those who she lived with, she will be remembered as the girl who could light up a room. Jo was a privilege to have known and we will sorely miss both her and her infectious smile."Lieutenant Colonel Kenyon added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time."
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