Private John Brackpool of 1 Welsh Guards killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the MOD has confirmed the death of Private John Brackpool of Prince of Wales’ Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, in Afghanistan.

Private Brackpool was killed on 9th July 2009 whilst on operations near Char-e-Anjir, just outside Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province , Afghanistan. He was serving as a rifleman with the Prince of Wales’ Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Private Brackpool was on sentry duty on a compound that had recently been secured as part of Operation Panther’s Claw, when the compound he was in was engaged by enemy fire. One of the rounds struck him, and despite immediate medical attention there was nothing that could be done for him.

John was born on 11th July 1981 in Crawley, West Sussex. He joined the Army and served with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, during which time he deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq. He had left the Regular Army, but volunteered to serve with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for a 6-month operational tour to Afghanistan.

Although his time with the Welsh Guards was short, he had settled in well and quickly become a popular member of his platoon. He leaves behind his parents, his partner, and his young son. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

His Battle Group Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Doug Chalmers MBE PWRR, said:

"Private Brackpool was a superb soldier who had learnt his trade as a member of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, serving with them in both Kosovo and Iraq. After a number of years he left the 'Pick of the South', as he affectionately referred to them, and entered civilian life. But before long he joined up as a reservist to serve with the Welsh Guards for their tour of duty in Afghanistan.

"It is a mark of the man that he settled quickly and earned his platoon’s respect in a matter of days. He was easy going, hard working and had that kind of water proof smile that kept morale going when things got tough.

"His loss has been an enormous blow to his many friends in the Welsh Guards and those that remember him in the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. But we are all very conscious that our loss is nothing compared to the one being felt by his family, partner and son. Our hearts go out to them at this extremely distressing time."