THE repatriation has taken place of a Runcorn soldier following his death in Afghanistan.
The Weekly News reported yesterday how Signaller Ian Sartorius-Jones, 21, died of a gun shot wound at a Nato patrol base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province on January 24.
Military investigators are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death and said the dad-of one is not thought to have died as a result of hostile action.
And yesterday his body was flown back to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire where he was repatriated with full military honours.
A family service was followed by a procession where colleagues and mourners lined the streets to pay their respects.
Described by the army as a ‘talented and intelligent soldier’, he had previously served in Iraq where his abilities were recognised early on and he was tasked with mentoring the country’s fledgling armed forces.
An army spokesman said: “While in Iraq he contributed to the provision of communications and the closure of the Combined Operating Base Basra.
“He showed the raw talent on tour to be plucked from his duties in the contingency operating base to serve with one of the military transition teams providing communications and mentoring to the Iraqi forces.”
The keen footballer and former British national tae kwon do champion from 200 Signal Squadron enlisted with the Royal Corps Of Signals in February 2007.
He joined 20th Armoured Brigade Headquarters & Signal Squadron (200) in May 2008 and deployed to Iraq on Operation TELIC 13.
Ian leaves behind his wife Kellyanne, son Dylan, parents Robert and Amanda, and brother Alan.
Police in Hampshire are trying to track down the owner of a life-size stuffed toy tiger which sparked a huge alert in response to fears it was a real animal which had escaped....
Read
CHESTER Zoo's pair of royal starlings - called William and Kate in honour of Prince William and Kate Middleton - have been renamed after keepers discovered both are male....
Read
Article
