The Ministry of Defence has named the British soldier who died in a training accident in Iraq as Lance Corporal James Freeman of the Royal Anglian Regiment. He joined the Army in June 2016.
Lance Corporal Freeman had a distinguished career, serving in South Sudan, Cyprus, the Falklands, Jordan, Romania, and Kenya, as well as contributing to the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was most recently deployed in Iraq as part of Operation Shader.
Colonel James WHM Bishop, commander of Operation Shader in Iraq, paid tribute, describing him as “larger than life and magnetically charming” and a “trusted junior leader” who “naturally brought people together”. He added: “His absence leaves a profound, irreplaceable void, and he will be missed beyond measure.”
The MoD said Lance Corporal Freeman was a “devoted family-man” who put his family “first in every situation”. Lieutenant Samuel Frost, his platoon commander, praised him as “an impressive soldier” and “one of the best”, expressing profound sympathy for his wife and daughter.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced the death in the House of Commons on Monday, stating that a training accident occurred in northern Iraq, and offering condolences to the family and unit.
