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Christina Drummond

Corporal Harvey Alex Holmes, 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment


Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2010, Corporal Harvey Alex Holmes, 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, attached to 40 Commando Royal Marines Battle Group, was killed in an explosion close to Patrol Base Waterloo in Sangin, Helmand province. He was providing protection for his patrol as they investigated a compound east of Wishtan, close to Checkpoint Chakaw.

Corporal Holmes enlisted in the army in 2004, and served in Northern Ireland and Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan the month before his death. He is remembered as “a selfless, dedicated and consummate professional, a rising star,” and had been promoted to Corporal after only five years of service.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hadfield said of him: "Corporal Holmes was a fine soldier, every inch the Mercian Infantryman. He showed true promise and had a great future. In his five years with the 1st Battalion he had passed some of the most arduous courses on offer, and served in Northern Ireland, Belize, the Falkland Islands and Iraq. He had been promoted twice in quick succession. He was an exceptional leader and commander, and helped others to give of their best. He was without doubt one of the very best, and should inspire all of us as we remember his selfless courage, humour in the face of adversity, and total commitment to his friends and his regiment. We will remember him as the Cheshire Oak that he was, standing firm always, and striking hard only to save others who were in trouble. He was the epitome of the modern British soldier and we will miss him deeply."

Harvey, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, was 22 years old and engaged to be married.

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