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Private Ryan found dead in Basra

Surbiton.com: February 14, 2009 - 9:28am
Photo credit: 
Ministry of Defence

MOD to investigate death of Surbiton solider.

Private Ryan Wrathall, who was serving with The 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base on Thursday morning. The 21-year-old soldier died of a gunshot wound in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said.

He was deployed to southern Iraq last November for a six-month tour and was serving with The 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment as part of the 5th Battalion The Rifles Strike Battle Group.

According to his commanding officer, he had recently flown to Spain to visit his seriously ill father. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Sykes said, 'He flew back from Iraq and went with his mother to visit his father and to be with his family at a time of crisis.

Lt Col Sykes described the death as even harder to come to terms with because Basra was at relative peace. He described Pte Wrathall as quiet and reserved at first, before growing in confidence.

Read more: 
Daily Mail: Suicide probe after soldier's death at base in Iraq

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