Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK
Army, Guardsman, 1st BN, The Coldstream Guards
5/2/2005, Maysan, Al Amarah (near)
Anthony Wakefield, a 24-year-old Coldstream Guard, from Newcastle, had been serving with the 12th Mechanised Brigade in the south-east of Iraq. The married father-of-three was on patrol in an armoured car when the bomb exploded near Al-Amarah on Sunday. He died of his injuries the following day.
His death takes the number of UK servicemen who have died in the Iraq conflict to 87.
Guardsman Wakefield’s wife, Ann Toward, told ITV her husband had been “a very brave man” who was “outgoing” and “funny” and a great father.
The Commanding Officer of 1 Staffords, Lt Col Andrew Williams has paid tribute to Guardsman Wakefield professionalism:
“May I start by expressing my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Guardsman Wakefield.Guardsman Wakefield died in the early hours of 2 May 2005 as a result of wounds sustained during a patrol in the town of Al Amarah, Southern Iraq. He was acting as the top cover sentry in the second of a two vehicle patrol when what appears to have been an Improvised Explosive Device detonated, disabling the vehicle and injuring another soldier. Despite receiving first aid at the scene and in the helicopter that evacuated him, he sadly died of wounds shortly after being attended by the doctor at the Battlegroups base just outside the town. Guardsman Wakefield was a supremely fit and popular soldier who died doing his duty and amongst his friends. A proud Coldstream Guardsman, he was attached to the Staffords Battlegroup and had made many friends during his time with us. To all those who were lucky enough to know him, it was clear that he loved his duty and had a very bright future ahead of him. He was already a qualified Physical Training Instructor and had been selected to attend a course for promotion at the end of the 6 month tour. Guardsman Wakefield will be sorely missed by a great many people and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.