British Para killed by IED - WO2 Colin Beckett

WO2 Colin Beckett

The British Para killed in action on Saturday 5th February has been named.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (Company Sergeant Major) Colin Beckett of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment was killed in an explosion. He was attempting to secure an area in Shaheed, a village on the Nahr-e-Bughra canal, when he was caught in the blast from a roadside bomb.

Company Sergeant Major Beckett, known as Tom, was described by his colleagues as an inspirational and iconic leader.

The 36-year-old, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, joined the army more than 20 years ago and has a "tremendous amount of operational experience", a MOD spokesman said.

His wife Rachel, who is expecting their first child later this month - a little girl already named Freya, said: "Anyone who ever met or knew Colin 'Tom' would have been touched by him in a big way and he will never be forgotten.