Bodies of four British troops are flown home

Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor
13.08.09

The bodies of four soldiers killed in Afghanistan arrived back in Britain today.

Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 26, Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23, Private Kyle Adams, 21, and Private Jason Williams, 23, died in Helmand Province this month.

The C-17 Globemaster with their coffins landed at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire shortly before lunchtime and was met by members of their families

The Union flag-draped coffins were then driven through nearby Wootton Bassett, where crowds have gathered over recent weeks to pay their respects to the British fallen.

Cpl Mulligan, L/Cpl Hopkins and Pte Adams, whose home towns have not been revealed, were from the Parachute Regiment and died when their Jackal armoured vehicle was hit by an explosion near Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province last Thursday.

The men, who were working with special forces, were carrying out a routine security patrol with Afghan troops when their vehicle was struck by the blast before coming under small arms fire from insurgents.

Pte Williams, from Worcester, and serving with the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was killed by an explosion on Saturday while trying to retrieve the body of an Afghan comrade.

His commanding officer praised his bravery and “selfless sacrifice”.

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