17/05/2011

Teenage Marine Fatality Named

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that Marine Nigel Dean Mead (pictured) from Lima Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, Combined Force Nad 'Ali (North), was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday.

The news came just hours after the Government published its tri-Service Armed Forces Covenant for the first time and announced that, with an amendment to the Armed Forces Bill, its principles will be enshrined in law.

The core principles are that members of the Armed Forces Community do not suffer disadvantages as a result of their service and that they receive special treatment where appropriate.

These principles, put into law through an amended Armed Forces Bill, will set the tone for future government policy dedicated to improving support for the Armed Forces Community.

However, such legal moves are too late for casualties such as teenage soldier, Dean Mead, or the other 364 to die in Afghanistan.

He was fatally injured during the morning of 15 May, when Lima Company were conducting a cordon and search operation, partnered with the Afghan National Security Forces, of compounds suspected of being associated with improvised explosive device facilitation in the Loy Mandeh wadi in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province.

The troops landed in a helicopter and began to move towards the compounds of interest.

Shortly afterwards, Marine Mead was fatally injured in an improvised explosive device blast.

Marine Mead - who would have been 20 in October - lived with his mother, Amanda, and sister in Carmarthen.

He studied at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen until he joined the Royal Marines in October 2008, aged 17.

Marine Mead's mother Amanda said: "I could never write enough words that would truly say how much I loved and thought of you, you're not a one in a million son, you are one in a hundred million."

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox, said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Marine Nigel Mead. The tributes from his fellow Royal Marines and family describe an exemplary young man with incredible enthusiasm who was committed to his duty and his friends. My thoughts and prayers are with Marine Mead's family and friends at this tragic time."

The number of British military deaths in operations in Afghanistan since 2001 now stands at 365.

(BMcC/GK)

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