Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2003, Six Royal Military Policemen from 156 Provost Company, were killed in an incident at Al Majar Al Kabir in Iraq. That morning, a group of paratroopers had reportedly shot dead at least three people during a riot in the town’s market square. The Red Caps were not aware of the incident, so while Iraqi officers fled, they stood their ground and were cornered and murdered by a mob of hundreds of locals. An inquest recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, the coroner heard claims the men had antiquated radio equipment, no satellite phone and only 50 rounds of ammunition when they should have had 150, and he ruled their deaths could not have been avoided. We remember:

Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, from Chessington in Surrey, was 41 years old.

Corporal Russell Aston, from Swadlincote in Derbyshire, was 30 years old and married with a small daughter.

Corporal Paul Long, from Colchester in Essex, was 24 years old and married with a baby son.

Corporal Simon Miller, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, was 21 years old and engaged to be married.

Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde, from Northallerton in Yorkshire, was 23 years old.

Lance Corporal Thomas Keys, from Llanuwchllyn in Wales, was 20 years old.