Iraq War: Thirteen North East soldiers who died

• Rifleman Aaron Lincoln
• From: Durham
• Age: 18
• Died: April 2007
• Served with: 2nd Battalion, The Rifles

Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, was conducting a security patrol in Basra with his platoon, when a gunman opened fire. His team was tasked to conduct a follow-up onto the suspected firing point but, as the team attempted to gain access to the building, shots were fired from a different direction. Rifleman Lincoln died as a result of his injuries.

• Guardsman Anthony Wakefield
• From: Newcastle
• Age: 24
• Died: May 2005
• Served with: 1st Battalion, the Coldstream Guards

Guardsman Wakefield, a married father-of-three, died as a result of wounds sustained during a routine patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq.

• L/Cpl Benjamin Hyde
• Age: 23
• From: Northallerton
• Died: June 2003
• Served with: 156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police

L/Cpl Benjamin Hyde was one of six Royal Military Red Caps killed by an angry mob in Al Majar Al Kabir, near Basra.

• Cpl Simon Miller
• Age: 21
• From: Washington
• Died: June 2003
• Served with: 156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police

Cpl Simon Miller was one of six Royal Military Red Caps killed by an angry mob in Al Majar Al Kabir, near Basra.

• Cpl Paul Long
• Age: 24
• From: South Shields
• Died: June 2003
• Served with: 156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police

Cpl Paul Long was one of six Royal Military Red Caps killed by an angry mob in Al Majar Al Kabir, near Basra.

• Christopher Maddison
• Age: 24
• From: Scarborough
• Died: March 2003
• Served with: 9 Assault Squadron Royal Marines

Christopher was killed in action during fighting in the area of Basrah.

• W/Officer Colin Wall
• Age: 34
• From: County Durham
• Died: August 2003
• Served with: 150 Provost Company, Royal Military Police

father-of-three W/Officer Wall was killed alongside two colleagues when their civilian jeep was attacked by Iraqi fighters.

• Cpl Kris O'Neill
• From: Catterick
• Age: 27
• Died: April 2007
• Served with: Royal Army Medical Corps

Cpl O'Neill was one of four British personnel killed following a roadside bomb attack against a Warrior Armoured Vehicle patrol west of Basra City.

• Pte Mark Dobson
• From: Darlington
• Age: 41
• Died: March 2005
• Served with: B Company of the Tyne-Tees Regiment

Found dead in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station in March 2005.

• Sgt Mark McLaren
• From: Ashington
• Age: 27
• Died: April 2007
• Served with: Parachute Regiment

Father of twins Sgt McLaren died alongside Colour Sgt Mark Powell when two Puma helicopters crashed in Iraq on April 15 2007.

• Pte Michael Tench
• Age: 18
• From: Sunderland
• Died: January 2007
• Served with: A Company, 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry

Pte Tench was part of a Warrior patrol that had set out from an army base when an Improvised Explosive Device exploded.

• Staff Sgt Sharron Elliott
• Age: 34
• From: South Shields
• Died: November 2006
• Served with: Intelligence Corps

Staff Sgt Elliott was one of four UK Service personnel killed in an attack on a Multi-National Forces boat patrol on the Shatt Al-Arab waterway.

• Col Sgt John Cecil
• Age: 35
• From: Gateshead
• Died: March 2003
• Served with: Royal Marines

Col Sgt Cecil was killed when a US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border with US and UK personnel aboard; there were no survivors. Eight personnel from 3 Commando Brigade died in the accident, along with four US aircrew.