Suffolk Soldier Killed In Combat Named

28 March 2010, 10:45 | Updated: 29 March 2010, 06:25

A Suffolk soldier on patrol in southern Afghanistan who was killed after a grenade was thrown from behind a wall has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, serving as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was killed in Afghanistan on the afternoon of 26 March 2010.

Lance Corporal of Horse Woodgate, aged 27, was on a Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) foot patrol operating about three kilometres to the south of Sangin District Centre when he was fatally wounded by a grenade thrown from behind a wall.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "He was on a Brigade Reconnaissance Force foot patrol operating about three kilometres to the south of Sangin District Centre when he was fatally wounded by a grenade thrown from behind a wall. He was part of a BRF operation doing what the soldiers of the BRF have done throughout their tour in Helmand, boldly and relentlessly taking the fight to the insurgents. He will be sorely missed by us all and we will remember him.''

Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate was born in Bury St Edmunds. He attended Great Cornard Upper School before joining the Army Foundation College in 2001.

He's the first member of the Household Cavalry Regiment to be killed in Afghanistan this tour. The regiment is coming to the end of its six month deployment. Prince Harry served with the Household Cavalry in Afghanistan for 10 weeks at the beginning of 2008.

Grenade attacks are not uncommon in Helmand but this is the first time this year a death has been specifically attributed to such an attack.

A total of 277 British troops have now died in the Afghan conflict since operations began in 2001.