LEE HOPKINSWarrant Officer Class 2 Lee Hopkins was just fiveweeks into a planned six month tour of Iraq when, on 12 November, 2006, he diedonboard a routine boat patrol along Basra's Shatt Al Arab River.
The boat, a Rigid Raiding Craft, was hit by"an improvised explosive device" which also left three other Britishservice personnel dead.
Described as a strong, enthusiasticcharacter with a wicked sense of humour, WO2 Hopkins spent hisentire career in the Royal Corps of Signals and, having previously served inNorthern Ireland and Kosovo, made an immediate impact on his arrival in Iraq.
He leaves behind him a 10-year marriage anda young son.
WO2 Hopkins was born in 1969, atWellingborough, Northampton. An "outstandingly professional soldier whoembraced the challenges of his profession," he joined the British Army in1988 and spent his entire career in the Royal Signals.
He had previously seen operational servicein Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq, before embarking on a planned six-monthtour of the latter in 2006.
Outside of his armed service, WO2 Hopkins was also a qualified parachutist and keen all-round sportsman,excelling in rugby, squash, golf and orienteering.
"He won the respect of all who met himfor his leadership, enthusiasm and dedication," recalled his CommandingOfficer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Park. "Fit and ambitious, he was ashining example to all."
Tragedy struck, however, on 12 November,2006, when WO2 Hopkins' routine boat patrol fell victim to the detonation of anexplosive device mounted on a bridge at the eastern edge of Basra city.
The attack also claimed the lives of threeother British service personnel - Corporal Ben Nowak, Marine Jason Hylton and Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott - while a further three sustained seriousinjuries.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Park continued: "Proudof his airborne training, WO2 Lee Hopkins took every opportunity to further hissoldiering skills. He led from the front with a quiet authority and paidattention to every detail.
"My thoughts and that of the unit arewith his family and friends at this very difficult time. We have lost a trustedand valued colleague, who will be sorely missed by all."
An MoD statement described how members ofWO2 Hopkins' unit had been impressed by his "infectious enthusiasm and hisability to thrive on challenge."
A funeral with military honours later tookplace at Wellingborough Unified Church. His coffin, draped in the Union Flag,was taken to a local cemetery where a volley of shots was fired over thegraveside.
The attack is thought to have been thefirst on a patrol boat carrying British personnel.
Friend and colleague, Lieutenant ColonelHalstead, described WO2 Hopkins as "a superb soldier, a cracking warrantofficer and put simply... a top man."
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