Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2010, Private Jonathan Michael Monk, 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan. He was on foot patrol clearing an area of IEDs when he was caught in an explosion.

Private Monk had joined the Army 2001 at the age of 16, something he had wanted to do since he was a small child. He served in Iraq, Northern Ireland and on an earlier tour of Afghanistan. In 2009 he left to join the Fire Service, but as there was a delay in the recruitment process he volunteered to return to Afghanistan. He is remembered as confident, committed and highly professional.

Major Chris Wood said: “Private John Monk was killed as his section moved to clear an insurgent-held compound in the Adinzai area of the Upper Gereshk Valley. He was deployed as part of a deliberate IED-clearance operation to provide greater security for the people of the Upper Gereshk Valley. John Monk joined C Company, 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), shortly after we had deployed into the Upper Gereshk Valley. He was a naturally scruffy individual who constantly caught the attention of the Company Sergeant Major whilst in camp with his beard and ill-fitting or mixed combats. Nonetheless, he was a gregarious and outgoing individual who fitted in immediately with the men of C Company. His happy demeanour and enthusiasm was infectious and during his short time with the company he became a close friend and colleague to all and had proved himself to be a highly capable infantryman.”

Jonathan, from London, was 25 years old.