British Serviceperson killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 25 May 2008

A Military Operations news article

26 May 08

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a British Serviceperson was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, Sunday 25 May 2008.

Ministry of Defence

The incident, in which two other personnel were injured, happened at approximately 1250hrs, two kilometres north of Sangin, when the vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion. The UK personnel were returning to their operating base following operations in the Musa Qaleh area. The two injured Service personnel were airlifted to Camp Bastion for medical treatment.

The next of kin have been informed and have requested a 24 hour period of grace before further details are released.

MoD reveals extent of forces overstretch

Published Date: 14 May 2008

By ROSS LYDALL

THE huge demands being placed on the UK's armed forces were laid bare yesterday in an official report from the Ministry of Defence.

It admitted that the requirements of fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – as well as providing peacekeeping troops elsewhere in the world – meant Britain was not ready to respond to new demands.

Only 56.5 per cent of UK forces are ready to be deployed – against a 71 per cent target. And this is despite army and RAF personnel being returned to war zones sooner than intended in the so-called "interval harmony" guidelines.

The MoD's spring performance report 2007-8 states that RAF tours of duty should have intervals of "no less than 16 months". But this rule is being broken by quicker than intended redeployments of various units, including Nimrod, Harrier and the joint helicopter command.

Soldiers in the army are meant to average two years between tours but this has been breached for the Infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Signals and Royal Logistics Corps.

At present, there are 14,410 UK personnel on active duty, including 8,900 in Afghanistan and 4,000 in Iraq. The remainder are serving mainly in Qatar, Cyprus, Kuwait, Oman and Kosovo or are at sea.

Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, said the need to make £2.8 billion a year savings while carrying out operations abroad had proved more difficult than anticipated.

Liam Fox, his Tory shadow, said: "Finally the government admits what everyone has known for sometime – that our armed forces are overstretched and we cannot be ready for the full range of potential operations. The planning assumptions will have to be changed … or the government will have to increase the size of the armed forces."

Trooper Ratu Babakobau of the Household Cavalry Regiment killed in Helmand

A Military Operations news article

3 May 08

It is with deep sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Trooper Ratu Babakobau of the Household Cavalry Regiment was killed yesterday, Friday 2 May 2008, in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Trooper Ratu Babakobau, Household Cavalry Regiment
[picture via MOD]

At 1350hrs local time whilst providing protection for a routine patrol in the Nowzad area of northern Helmand, the vehicle he was travelling in suffered a minestrike.

Three other British soldiers and one local national were also injured in the incident. The medical incident response team was called in and evacuated the casualties to the ISAF medical facilities at Camp Bastion.
Sadly Trooper Babakobau was pronounced dead on arrival. The remaining casualties are receiving treatment for their injuries.

Trooper Ratu Babakobau, Household Cavalry Regiment

Trooper Babakobau, 29 from Fiji, joined the Army in 2004 to serve in the Household Cavalry Regiment. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2008 serving under the command of the 5 SCOTS Brigade. This was his first deployment on operations overseas.

He is survived by his wife Camari and two sons, Ratu Seru, aged four, and Ratu Sakeasi Sucumailodoni Selamu, aged one.

Lieutenant Colonel Harry Fullerton, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, said:

"Tpr Ratu Babakobau was an outstanding soldier, who was destined for great things in the Regiment. His loss is an enormous tragedy to the Household Cavalry. We have lost a top soldier and his family have lost a loving husband and father.

"He was a big man, in every sense, loved and respected by all and his loss will be sorely felt."

Lieutenant Colonel David Richmond

"He had excelled himself as a truly versatile Household Cavalryman, rising to become a star of the Mounted Regiment, proving to be one of the best troopers in his squadron.

"In a very short space of time at the Household Cavalry Regiment he had yet again proved himself to be a highly adaptable and determined, proud and professional soldier, who had bags of potential and so much to give. He was already a leader of men.

"Words themselves cannot express our grief at this time and our thoughts lie with his wife, children and his family back in Fiji."

Lieutenant Colonel David Richmond, Commanding Officer, 5 SCOTS Brigade said:

"Trooper Ratu Babakobau died in action doing a job he loved and excelled in, surrounded by men who held him in the highest regard. He possessed all of the best qualities of a British soldier: selfless commitment, utter professionalism and the absolute will to win.

"He also had a strong morale compass and an acute sense of fun. He had enormous potential, which with his strength of character and determination, he would certainly have fulfilled.

"He was a big man, in every sense, loved and respected by all and his loss will be sorely felt. It was a deep honour to command him on operations and my thoughts are with his wife and loved ones at this tragic time."

Major Will Bartle-Jones RHG/D, D Squadron Leader, said of him:

"Trooper ‘Baba’ Babakobau was a rising star of the Household Cavalry and in particular, D Squadron. He made an instant impact on arrival from the Mounted Regiment, with his unrivalled professionalism, thirst for knowledge and truly Trojan prowess on the rugby pitch.

"He displayed a great deal of humility which belied his capabilities as an armoured vehicle driver and he took a great deal of personal pride in his work. He was highly respected by all ranks, across both Regiments, tipped to be one of the first Fijian SNCOs, with responsibility he would have revelled in and with the chance to show his myriad of talents.

"All junior soldiers looked up to him as the model of a strong junior leader, with an exceptionally deft touch with new soldiers who quickly warmed to his strong personality."

"Equally at home on a horse as in a fighting vehicle, he upheld traditional standards, strong personal beliefs and a sense of immense fun. He was desperate to go on operations in order to improve the lives of those less fortunate than himself and he gave his life so selflessly in pursuit of this cause.

"He was instantly likable with a gentle and caring nature that belied his stature. His physical strength was mirrored in his strong moral and ethical bearing."

Captain Tom Long LG

"I have been immensely privileged to have had such a strong character within D Squadron, to have served alongside him and enjoyed the many humorous moments that so endeared him to all within the Squadron and Regiment.

"Our thoughts and prayers are very much with his wife and children in Windsor, but also his extended family in Fiji at this immensely difficult time. His loss is a huge tragedy; however his selflessness will drive the remainder of us forward to ensure we achieve our aims and remember him as a stalwart member of this close knit Squadron and Regiment."

Captain Tom Long LG, Squadron Operations Officer of D Squadron Household Cavalry Regiment, said:

"I have had the honour of serving with Trooper Babakobau both in the ceremonial role in London and in the armoured role in Windsor. Trooper Babakobau was a larger than life character with a hugely infectious smile. He was instantly likable with a gentle and caring nature that belied his stature. His physical strength was mirrored in his strong moral and ethical bearing.

"Trooper Babakobau excelled in his job at the Mounted Regiment. He was always immaculately turned out and was an example to others by maintaining the highest of standards. An athletic sportsman he quickly adapted to riding cavalry horses, often on State occasions. After serving for 3 years at Mounted Duty, he was eager to experience the armoured role of the Regiment, fulfilling the role of a recce soldier.

"He was an astute operator often at the hub of any troop or squadron activity dispensing help and advice above and beyond his rank and experience and always found time for his comrades.

"It was in this role of a recce soldier that Trooper Babakobau was tragically killed in action, serving with his friends, in the job that he loved. His loss will be keenly felt by all in D Squadron and at both regiments in the UK where he made a lasting impression on everyone he met.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time, but they should take some comfort knowing that he was at the forefront of the Squadron, doing the job he joined the Army to do and was surrounded by his friends."

"He was a wonderful bloke and he would do anything for anyone."

Trooper Clayton

Lance Corporal of Horse Graham, of 4 Troop, D Squadron, said:

"Baba was a professional soldier. Always smiling and offering a helping hand. A gentle giant and an extremely proud soldier. He will be missed greatly by his Squadron and Regiment."

LCpl Ross of 2 Troop, D Squadron, said:

"He was a great soldier who worked hard in whatever task that was asked of him. He was proud to be in the Household Cavalry Regiment and he will be missed by all of the Regiment and our thoughts go out to the family."

Friend and colleague Trooper Watson of 4 Troop said:

"He was a joy to be around. He was a very good trooper who always had a big smile and would always stop to talk to you and give a helping hand. He was physically strong and very friendly. He and I got on well and always talked New Zealand and Fiji.

"I will always remember that I would greet him with a Maori greeting of kiore and he would do the same. He will be missed by all and our hearts go out to his family. God bless you."

Trooper Clayton, SQMC Department, said:

"Babs was a very good friend of mine. When I first got to the regiment he welcomed me with open arms. Babs would always ask if you were alright. He was a wonderful bloke and he would do anything for anyone. I will deeply miss him as a fellow soldier but mostly as a friend. He will be missed by the Squadron and the Regiment."

In a statement, Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"Trooper Babakobau was making a valuable contribution to improving the lives of those less fortunate than himself, and it is clear that he was a well liked and very professional soldier who will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with Trooper Babakobau’s family and friends and I would like to offer my condolences to them on their tragic loss."

Trooper Babakobau’s family have asked that members of the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

British soldier killed by mine in Afghanistan

By Patrick Sawer

Last Updated: 8:17AM BST 03/05/2008

A British soldier has been killed and three others injured when their patrol vehicle hit a mine in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The four soldiers were all members of the Household Cavalry Regiment, the same regiment as Prince Harry. An Afghan national was also injured.

The incident happened at 1.50pm yesterday when the soldiers were providing protection for a routine patrol in the Nowzad area of northern Helmand.

Next of kin have been informed and the soldier is expected be identified over the weekend.

An MoD spokesman said the casualties were taken to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medical facilities at Camp Bastion when one soldier was pronounced dead on arrival.

The three other British casualties are receiving treatment for their injuries.

The death takes the number of British military fatalities in that country since the start of operations in November 2001 to 95.

Of those, 69 were killed in action or died of combat wounds while the remainder died from illness, accidents, non-combat injuries or whose cause of death has not yet been formally classified.