Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2005, Private Mark Dobson of B (Green Howards) Company, The Tyne-Tees Regiment, took his own life in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station.

He had joined the Territorial Army in 1996. On his deployment to Iraq in November of 2004, he was attached to the Force Protection Unit providing security for personnel working out of the Multi National Division (South East) Headquarters at Basrah Air Station.

His C.O. wrote of him: "Private Dobson was an enthusiastic and popular member of B (Green Howards) Company. He transferred into the Infantry three years ago in search of further challenge and to satisfy his thirst for adventure and passion for soldiering. Private Dobson always had a valuable contribution to make.

He was a tremendously effective team member and could always be relied upon to give a full 100% in anything he was tasked to do. He had recently qualified as a Physical Training Instructor, gaining a course award considerably better than others who were many years younger than him. He was a regular attender at weekend and annual training camps, and had served since 1996 throughout the UK and in Cyprus. Private Dobson’s death has come as a great shock to the many people that knew him, and he will be sadly missed."

At the inquest into his death, his mother stated that although he was serious-minded and would get emotional about world affairs, he loved his job and had looked forward to going to Iraq, so his death came "out of the blue.". He had left his parents a suicide note referring to "this evil world." To his T.A. comrades he left a note saying,

"Sorry to let you down, lads." Mark, from Co. Durham, was 41 years old, a paramedic in civilian life, and considered as a father figure by the men with whom he served.