Royal Marine Corporal Liam Elms dies a hero’s death in Afganistan!
| Blast death Marine ‘a man’s man’ ANANOVA |
Family members of a
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
on New Year’s Eve have described
how they had been left with a
“huge hole” in their lives.
The death of
Corporal Liam Elms,
26, from Wigan marked an end
to Britain’s worst year of
losses since the conflict began.
In a statement released through
the Ministry of Defence,
his family described him as a
“true man’s man”.
They added:
“Liam always strived
to be the best,
his proudest achievement
was receiving his beloved
green beret.
Liam will leave a huge hole
in our lives and he will
always be missed.”
Cpl Elms, who was engaged to be married, died in an explosion in Southern Helmand on operations with Zulu Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines.
The Company was conducting a local area patrol alongside Afghan National Army troops in order to reassure the local population, the MoD said.
The keen Rugby League enthusiast was described by colleagues as an exceptional leader who had
“commando qualities
in spades”.
Lieutenant Colonel Jim Morris,
commanding officer with 45 Commando,
said:
“Cpl Elms was an
outstanding Royal Marine
and a huge personality.
The determined commitment and bravery that he has shown throughout the conduct of numerous operations over the last few months has been an example to all and his loss has been felt very deeply throughout 45 Commando.”
He was the 137th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 and the 12th Royal Marine to die in the past two months.
His death took the number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan last year to 51,
compared with 42 in 2007 and 39 in 2006.
Between October 2001 and the
end of 2005, there were five fatalities.
Defence Secretary John Hutton added:
“Corporal Liam Elms
was clearly an
outstanding Marine.
His family, friends and colleagues
will mourn deeply his loss,
and my thoughts are with them
at this most difficult time.
.
_________________________
.
Marine killed in
Afaganistan
named as Corporal
Liam Elms
by Matthew Hickley
January 1st, 2009
MAILONLINE
Family members of a Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on New Year’s Eve tonight described how they had been left with a ‘huge hole’ in their lives.
The death of Corporal Liam Elms, 26, from Wigan marked an end to Britain’s worst year of losses since the conflict began.
In a statement released through the Ministry of Defence, his family described him as a ‘true man’s man.’
‘A true man’s man’: Corporal Liam Elms was killed in Afghanistan on New Year’s Eve.
His family say they have been left with a huge hole in their lives
They added:
‘Liam always strived to be the best,
his proudest achievement was receiving his beloved green beret.
‘Liam will leave a huge hole in our lives and he will always be missed.’
Cpl Elms, who was engaged to be married, died in an explosion in Southern Helmand on operations with Zulu Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines.
The Company was conducting a local area patrol alongside Afghan National Army troops in order to reassure the local population, the MoD said.
The keen Rugby League enthusiast was described by colleagues as an exceptional leader who had ‘commando qualities in spades’.
Lieutenant Colonel Jim Morris, commanding officer with 45 Commando, said: ‘Cpl Elms was an outstanding Royal Marine and a huge personality.
‘The determined commitment and bravery that he has shown throughout the conduct of numerous operations over the last few months has been an example to all and his loss has been felt very deeply throughout 45 Commando.’
He was the 137th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 and the 12th Royal Marine to die in the past two months.
His death took the number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan last year to 51, compared with 42 in 2007 and 39 in 2006.
Between October 2001 and the end of 2005, there were five fatalities.
Colleagues said Cpl Elms had also served in Northern Ireland and Norway.
Major Andy Muddiman, Royal Marines officer in command of Z Company Group, added: ‘His hallmarks at work were utter professionalism and complete application to the task in hand.
‘As a character he was jovial, big hearted and strived constantly to do his best. His contribution to both the training and leadership of the Company has been considerable.
‘His interests both within the Corps and at home centred on his passions for shooting and marksmanship, in which he excelled.
‘He became the authority within Zulu Company on section level tactics and equipment.
‘Cpl Elms lived and breathed his job, exuding an enthusiasm for soldiering that was instantly infectious.
‘He had Commando qualities in spades – most of all he was unselfish, brave and determined.
‘An exceptional leader, he never flinched from a dangerous task and the manner in which he died, leading from the front, was typical of the way he chose to live.’
Defence Secretary John Hutton added: ‘Corporal Liam Elms was clearly an outstanding Marine.
His family, friends and colleagues will mourn deeply his loss, and my thoughts are with them at this most difficult time.’
The news came as it was revealed military chiefs are drawing up contingency plans to send ‘significant’ troop reinforcements to the country after UK forces suffered their bloodiest year since fighting began seven years ago.
Fifty-one British servicemen and women were killed last year – up from 42 in 2007 and 38 in 2006 – crushing hopes that the Taliban were close to defeat.
Despite pleas for pressure to be eased on our overstretched Armed Forces, senior commanders fear Gordon Brown will bow to pressure from Washington once Barack Obama is sworn in as President and order the deployment of up to 2,000 extra soldiers.
The Pentagon is preparing a ‘surge’ of 20,000 extra fighting troops in the hope of tipping the balance against the Taliban.
The new President is also expected to ask Britain to set an example to other Nato allies – most of whom have so far failed to commit large numbers of troops.
Defence chiefs are hoping the Prime Minister will turn down the U.S. request or send only token reinforcements, despite the risk of causing a serious rift.
But they have ordered plans for a major increase, which would take Britain’s commitment from 8,400 troops to more than 10,000 by the summer.
Commanders on the ground believe more manpower is needed to build lasting security in the region. They fear British operations there could be sidelined when 10,000 American troops arrive in the coming months.
Publicly, the MOD says it has ‘no plans to change our commitment at this time’.
An MoD spokesman said last night: ‘The UK is the second largest force contributor to Afghanistan and we have been clear a greater commitment is needed from other Nato countries.’
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