Corporal Stephen Thompson killed in Afghanistan

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Stephen Thompson from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES), serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 7 March 2010.
Corporal Thompson died as a result of an explosion in an area 3km south of Sangin district centre, Helmand province
Corporal Stephen Thompson
Corporal Stephen Thompson, from Bovey Tracey, in Devon was born in Cleveland on 11 August 1978.
He enlisted in the Army in January 1997 and was sent to be trained at the Army Training Regiment in Lichfield, completing his course in October that year. He joined the 1st Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment where he successfully completed a Junior Non Commissioned Officers' Cadre earning him promotion to Lance Corporal.
Corporal Thompson then completed the Section Commanders Battle Course before being posted to the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick to train recruits. He returned to 1 RIFLES in January 2010 before volunteering to deploy as a Battle Casualty Replacement for 3 RIFLES.
Corporal Thompson joined A Company (A Coy) 3 RIFLES in February and was working with 2 Platoon out of Patrol Base Almas in Sangin when he was tragically killed while on patrol by an improvised explosive device (IED).He leaves behind his mother and father, Carol and Peter, brother, Philip, sisters, Claire and Helen, and his son, Ewan.
His parents have made the following statement:
"We are so very proud of our son Stephen and all that he achieved. He lived life to the full and died doing the job he loved.
"He will be sorely missed by his mum and dad, brother and sisters, his son, Ewan, and all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. Always in our hearts. Read more Here RIP


With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
Britain mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.