Sgt Ben Ross RMP killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the names of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Thursday 7 May 2009.

Sergeant Ben Ross of 173 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police and Corporal Kumar Pun of The 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles were killed as a result of a suicide improvised explosive device during a patrol in Gereshk, Helmand province.

Sergeant Ben Ross of 173 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police

Sergeant Ben Ross, aged 34, was born in Bangor, Wales, in 1974 but grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was educated at Hazlegrove Prep School and subsequently Kings School, Bruton in Somerset.

Sergeant Ross joined the Army in September 1996 and upon completion of basic training joined The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards where he served in Germany, Canada, Poland, in the Balkans and as a Phase One instructor. Sergeant Ross transferred to the Royal Military Police in 2003 and was subsequently posted to Weapons Intelligence Section in Northern Ireland.

He deployed on Operation TELIC 4, completed the Close Protection Course and deployed to 177 Support Platoon, 6 Royal Military Police with General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland. Having moved back to the Close Protection Unit as an instructor he subsequently deployed to Iraq as part of the Close Protection Team for the British Ambassador to Iraq.

He has served on various other tours including Operation TELIC a second time, Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan) and within a Close Protect team in Sudan. In December 2008 Sergeant Ross was posted to 173 Provost Company 3 Royal Military Police in order to deploy on Operation HERRICK 10.

On Operation HERRICK 10 (Afghanistan) Sergeant Ross was a team leader within the Police Mentoring Company. His role was to mentor, train and advise the Afghan Uniformed Police on security, policing and law enforcement, a role he relished.

Sergeant Ross is survived by Sheena, a serving Royal Military Policewoman. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheena and Sergeant Ross’s family at this most difficult time.