29/09/2004

MoD releases identity of British soldier killed in Basrah

One of the British soldiers killed in an ambush in southern Iraq yesterday has been named today by the MoD.

Corporal Marc Taylor, 27, from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, served with the Corps of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, and attached to 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. He was killed whilst escorting a visit to a new housing project on the outskirts of Basrah yesterday evening.

An MoD spokesperson said: "He was a calm, confident leader who easily gained the respect of all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a first class Team Commander. Corporal Taylor was a devoted husband and father. In the year he had been with the Regiment he made many good friends and will be sorely missed by all, in particular the members of the Workshop and B Battery. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family."

Cpl Taylor, who joined the army in August 1993, commanded a four-man team with B Battery Royal Horse Artillery from April 2004. Initially responsible for the mentoring and training of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Basrah Police, they had recently re-roled to provide escort teams to a group coordinating reconstruction projects in Basrah province.

The identity of the second ambush victim will be released after his family has been informed.

(gmcg/mb)

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