Soldier killed in Iraqi road accident named
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Your support makes all the difference.A British soldier killed in a road accident while serving in southern Iraq was today described as a "consummate professional".
Sergeant Wayne Rees, 36, of The Queen's Royal Lancers, was commanding a tracked Scimitar fighting vehicle when it left the road in rural Maysan Province.
Two other soldiers suffered minor injuries in the incident, which took place while they were on patrol just after dawn yesterday.
The death of Sgt Rees brings the total number of UK service personnel who have died since the start of hostilities in Iraq to 128.
His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Nixon-Eckersall, said serving with the soldier - known to his friends as "Mave" - was a privilege.
He said: "Sergeant Mave Rees was a friend. A consummate professional; he led his men with flair and took great pride in ensuring that they wanted for nothing.
"He was a great character and embodied the essence of what it is to be a reconnaissance soldier; no matter what the challenge he could be counted on to find a solution.
"He was passionate about everything he did and, in all aspects of regimental life, he made a difference.
"He is a great loss to The Queen's Royal Lancers. We are privileged to have served with him and will always remember a bright, energetic and talented man, with a mischievous sense of humour.
"Our thoughts are with his family, his fiancee Jayne and his daughter and son."
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