Bomb death city soldier is named

Aug 2 2007

A SUTTON Coldfield soldier killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Iraq has been named as Corporal Steve Edwards by the Ministry of Defence.

The 35-year-old soldier, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device in Basra, southern Iraq, on Tuesday night.

Cpl Edwards, known as Eddy to his friends, was on a routine patrol in the Mustashfa district of Basra City when his Warrior armoured vehicle was struck shortly before midnight local time.

The latest death brings the total number of British service personnel who have died in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to 164.

The MOD said Cpl Edwards was checking the safety of the soldiers travelling in his vehicle at the time of the attack.

He had been serving in Iraq since May and was often involved in operations in Basra City.

A member of Badger Squadron, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, attached to the Irish Guards Battle Group, Cpl Edwards was working under the command of 4th Battalion The Rifles.

Cpl Edwards, who leaves wife, Gabriele, and 18-month-old son, Ryan, joined the Army in 1993 and had deployed on exercises all over the world.

Lieutenant Colonel David Catmur, commanding officer of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, praised Cpl Edwards, with whom he had worked for a number of years.

"He was a cheerful, enthusiastic man who was very proud to be a part of our regimental family. He was a 'Tankie' to the core: proud, loyal and professional with an excellent esprit de corps," he said.