Dead soldier named by MoD

Updated 14.47 Fri Jun 08 2007
Keywords: 4th Battalion The Rifles, Corporal Rodney Wilson, soldier, Iraq, Basra

The 150th British soldier killed in Iraq has been named as Wiltshire-based Corporal Rodney Wilson.

Cpl Wilson, 30, from the 4th Battalion The Rifles, was shot as he stepped into heavy fire to evacuate a wounded colleague during a swoop in the district of al-Atiyah, north west of Basra, southern Iraq.

"He was, in simple terms, a maverick. He loved to challenge convention and upset apple carts - he was argumentative, challenging, thoughtful, highly intelligent and, more often than not, right" - Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Sanders

The German-born soldier was airlifted to the main British base in the city but died an hour and 20 minutes later.

The Ministry of Defence said that despite the tragedy, the Rifles succeeded in their mission, uncovering the largest cache of weapons yet found by 1 Mechanised Brigade - the UK's current lead formation in Iraq - and detaining five suspected insurgents.

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Sanders, paid warm tribute.

He said: "He was, in simple terms, a maverick. He loved to challenge convention and upset apple carts - he was argumentative, challenging, thoughtful, highly intelligent and, more often than not, right."

He continued: "But in spite of this wilful streak to his character he sailed though life, effortlessly making friends and gaining admirers along the way and this was because of his immense charm and character.

"One just had to admire him - he could charm the birds out of the trees, call black white, inflict a mischievous prank on you and have you agreeing with him and laughing all at the same time. He was remarkable and truly unique - a free spirit - and we will all miss him terribly."

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