Band of Brothers

As the setting sun slipped slowly behind a ridge, a lone bugler sounded the advance. The sound could be heard the length and breadth of the valley. As the echoes fade into the distance, the Soldiers turn to their right, salute their fallen and wounded comrades, pick up their rifles and return to the ramparts. (Colonel Robert Thomson, Commanding Officer of the 2 RIFLES Battlegroup).

Corporal Jonathan Horne, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, aged 28 from Walsall, was wounded in action by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) whilst leading a patrol at Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Cpl Horne had served in Iraq 2006-2007 where he was been wounded in action, he had also served in Kosovo on Peace Keeping Operations in 2008.
Cpl Jonathon Horne was helping other wounded members of his patrol when he lost his life in a second explosion.
He leaves his wife Rachel and their two children Frankie and Jessica.

Rifleman Joe Murphy, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, aged 18, was from Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. Joe Murphy lost his life in the second blast from an IED whilst carrying a brother Rifleman who had been seriously wounded in the first blast from and IED.
Rifleman Joe Murphy sacrificed his life in an attempt to save a brother rifleman and close friend.

Rifleman Daniel Simpson, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, aged 20, from Croydon, was severely wounded by the blast of the first IED. Rifleman Daniel Simpson, who had also served in Kosovo, lost his life in the second explosion whilst being carried to safety by a brother Rifleman.

Rifleman James Backhouse, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, aged 18, from Castleford, Yorkshire, was the lead soldier of the patrol and lost his life instantly in the first blast from the IED.

Rifleman William Aldridge, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, 18 years of age, from Bromyard, was wounded when his patrol was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) at Sangin in Helmand Province.
Although wounded, Rifleman William Aldridge comforted and rendered first aid to his Commanding Officer who was also wounded in the same blast along with brother Riflemen from, ‘Charlie,’ company 2nd Battalion The Rifles.
Rifleman William Aldridge lost his life when he was caught in the blast from a second IED whilst trying to help other wounded comrades.