Former Colchester soldier dies on routine patrol (From Gazette)

Former Colchester soldier dies on routine patrol

7:30am Tuesday 27th October 2009 in

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Colchester soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Corporal James Oakland, a Royal Military Police man, was on routine patrol in the Gereshk region of Helmand province on Thursday, when he was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device.

The 26-year-old had been working to clear the area of the home-made mines and bombs.

The soldier, known as Jim, had been deployed to the country two months early as part of the Battlefield Casualty Replacement programme.

He leaves a long-term girlfriend, Lauren Bowyer, with whom he had travelled the world. Corporal Oakland, from New Moston, in Manchester, is survived by his parents Steve and Christine and brother, Daniel, who is in his final term at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

In a statement, his family said: “We are immensely proud of James, the person he was and the job that he did. He was a true friend, loving son, grandson, brother and boyfriend, who will be dearly missed and never forgotten.”

Corporal Oakland has been described by the Ministry of Defence as “an outstanding Junior Non-Commissioned Officer with excellent prospects”.

He joined the Army in January 2002 and passed out into the Intelligence Corps. The following year he transferred to the Royal Military Police.

His first posting was to 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police, in Colchester, where he carried out general policing duties.

From Colchester he was deployed with the Spearhead Lead Element, to operations in Kosovo and Beirut, and after a number of highly-successful tours, he was posted to Weapons Intelligence Specialist Company.

Major Andy Lewis, Company Commander of the Weapons Intelligence Specialist Company, said: “Corporal Oakland was one of the brightest stars in my Company, and it was an honour to serve alongside him. A giant in both mind and body, he had a natural flair for his job.

“He was the man you wanted on your side in a difficult situation as he had been there many times before.

“A soldier’s soldier, he was in his element in the field; robust, devoted and utterly professional.”