The Ministry of Defence has released the heartbreaking final message left by a British paratrooper for his family, after he was killed in Ukraine earlier this month.
A Message of Pride and Hope
Lance Corporal George Hooley, a 28-year-old soldier from the Parachute Regiment, died on December 9. He was not on the front lines of Russia's invasion but was observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive capability when he was fatally injured in what has been described as a tragic accident.
At the request of his family, the MoD has now shared an extract from the poignant message he prepared. It begins: 'If you are reading this, it means I didn't make it home.' He immediately follows this with a plea: 'Please don't let that be the thing that breaks you.'
In the message, LCpl Hooley explains his motivations, stating he was 'doing what I believed in as well as loved, with people I respected, and for reasons that matter to me, my country and democracy and freedom in this world.' He emphatically tells his loved ones: 'I was proud of what I was doing... Don't remember me with sadness and loss. Be proud.'
A Distinguished Military Career
George Hooley had served for a decade, having joined the army in November 2015. He excelled from the start, emerging as the 'P Company Champion' – top of his cohort – during the demanding Pre-Parachute Selection Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick.
His promise continued within the Parachute Regiment. He quickly completed promotional courses, achieving distinction in both the regiment’s Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ course and the Section Commanders’ Battle course. His service included deployments in Afghanistan, Africa, and Eastern Europe prior to his time in Ukraine.
The Parachute Regiment, primarily based at Merville Barracks in Colchester, forms a key part of the British Army's rapid response capability. LCpl Hooley's body was repatriated to the UK on December 17 at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, followed by a private family ceremony.
International Tributes and the Wider Context
Prime Minister Keir Starmer led tributes in the House of Commons, stating: 'His life was full of courage and determination. He served our country with honour and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy.'
Condolences came from international allies as well. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles offered their sympathies alongside UK Defence Secretary John Healey in Washington DC. LCpl Hooley is among at least 40 British nationals known to have died fighting for Ukraine since the conflict began.
The UK maintains a limited number of personnel in Ukraine, including those providing security for diplomatic staff and medics. A leaked US document in 2023 suggested around 50 UK special forces members were on the ground.
This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of continued Western support for Ukraine. The EU has recently agreed a €90 billion loan, while the UK government has announced plans to send £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC to Ukraine. Defence Secretary Healey has called Putin the UK's 'number one enemy' and stated the world is in a 'new era of threat'.
The death of Lance Corporal George Hooley is a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict, even for those serving away from the immediate frontline, and his final words stand as a powerful testament to his sense of duty and love for his family.
