Briton killed in Iraq had told father he worked in Kuwait
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former British soldier killed after he went to work as a security guard in Iraq had told his father he would be working in Kuwait so as not to worry him.
Andrew Harries, 34, was killed on Tuesday when a gunman opened fire on a convoy of cars he was travelling in close to the city of Mosul in northern Iraq. His father Geoff, of Llwydcoed, Aberdare, South Wales, said yesterday his son's death had come as a complete shock. "I found out yesterday...I had no idea he was there," Mr Harries said. "It was apparently kept from me by Andrew and his brother David so that I would not worry. I am devastated. I had no idea he was out in Iraq. They both kept it from me."
Mr Harries's death followed the killing of former Royal Marine Brian Tilley, 47, last Friday. He was in Baghdad working as a security guard on behalf of an Egyptian communications company and was shot after he missed a flight home two days earlier.
Like Mr Tilley, Mr Harries had served during the first Gulf War. Mr Harries also served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland. Mr Harries, who was born in Cardiff but lived in Aberdare, was working in Iraq for Armor Group, a company which has been hired to protect Foreign Office staff there. In a statement the company said Mr Harries was providing security support for an Iraqi infrastructure reconstruction project when he was shot on the main Mosul to Irbil highway.
Christopher Beese, a director of Armor Group, said: "This is a very unfortunate and random loss of life from someone who was protecting civilians and helping put the country back together."
Mr Beese said all his employees working in Iraq were aware of the risks. Mr Harries had a daughter, aged three, who lives with his former partner in Runcorn, Cheshire.
He had been working as a security guard in Iraq for about eight weeks and was due to return home in two weeks' time. Mr Harries' mother, Veronica, had also died in the past year.
Last month, another British security guard Michael Bloss, 38, from Bridgend, South Wales, was killed while protecting American contractors.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments