SARAH HOLMESLance Corporal Sarah Holmes died on 14 October, 2007, following a car accident in Qater where she had been running the postage service for the Army’s operations in Iraq.LCpl Holmes was from Wantage, Oxfordshire. She joined the Army in 1997 and served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, former republic of Yugoslavia, Kenya and Poland.She was from the 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment and was serving on Operation TELIC attached to 3 Logistic Support Regiment.LCpl Holmes sustained injuries when the car in which she was a passenger was involved in a collision with a truck near Al Udeid airfield on 3 October.She was flown back to the UK where her family were by her side, but died 11 days later. She was just a few days from the end of her six-month operational tour when the accident happened.As well as serving in the Army, she was an enthusiastic student of English literature.Lieutenan t Colonel Iain McKend, her commanding officer, said she was "an absolute perfectionist" and "extremely diligent"."Her down-to-earth, helpful and friendly presence will be sorely missed," he added.Army colleague Justin Henderson, who had known Sarah for five years, said: "I thought very highly of her. A dedicated soldier and always trying to better herself, she had a heart of gold and she was great to work with. Above all she was a fantastic friend and I will miss her greatly."Major Neil Blenkinsop described her as "a first class ‘Postie’ and a true friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing her."Having had the privilege of serving alongside Sarah in Basra," he said, "I fondly remember her quick wit and infectious sense of humour."She leaves her mother and father, Dawn and Fred, and a brother, David.
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