Craftsman Anthony Lombardi killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Craftsman Anthony Lombardi of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), attached to The Light Dragoons, in Afghanistan on Tuesday 4 August 2009.

Craftsman (Cfn) Lombardi was killed in Babaji, in the Lashkar Gar district of Helmand province. He was attached as a vehicle mechanic to Emsdorf Troop, a CVR(T) [Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)] group from The Light Dragoons serving with A Company, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters & Foresters) (2 MERCIAN).

Cfn Lombardi was driving a CVR(T) Spartan as part of an escort for a Viking supply convoy, moving between the company's two locations when the vehicle was hit by an explosion. The force of the explosion breached the hull, killing him instantly.

Craftsman Anthony Lombardi

Cfn Lombardi was born on 8 October 1987 and grew up in Scunthorpe, South Humberside. He joined the Army in September 2004 and finished training at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering in Bordon in February 2006. He was then posted to 15 Equipment Support Company, 19 Light Brigade Combat Service Support Battalion, as a Vehicle Mechanic where he furthered his knowledge of the trade. After qualifying as a Class 2 mechanic, he was posted to The Light Dragoons Light Aid Detachment (LAD) in July 2008.
Known as "Lombo" to his friends, Cfn Lombardi was a talented sportsman and represented the Army Youth Team and the REME at football.

He is survived by his parents, Helen and Walter, and his fiancée, Ellie, with whom he had a one-year-old son, Harvey.

Anthony's family paid the following tribute:

"Anthony was a loving son, brother, father, uncle and fiancé. Everyone who loved Anthony is proud of him for who he was and for what he was doing in the Army.

"Everyone is gutted that such a talented, wonderful and popular person is now missing from their lives and his son will never grow up and understand what an amazing star Anthony was. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and colleagues."

Lieutenant Colonel Gus Fair, Commanding Officer of The Light Dragoons, said:

"Cfn Lombardi had all the qualities one would expect of a REME soldier – intelligent, driven and a brilliant mechanic. More than that, though, he was the life and soul of his peer group. Always at the centre of any social event, he applied the same vigour and enthusiasm for life to his work. No matter how little sleep he had, or how complicated and lengthy his repair was, Cfn Lombardi would have a smile on his face and an infectious enthusiasm that carried his section forward. He was hugely popular and undoubtedly had the potential to go far.

"We have been privileged to have a soldier of this singular quality attached to the Regiment and we, along with his many close friends in the REME, will feel his loss deeply. All of our thoughts remain with his family; His parents, Helen and Walter, and his fiancée and their young son, Harvey. We are desperately sorry for this terrible loss."