Bomb expert dad killed in gun battle with Taliban
A LLANELLI dad died serving his country in Afghanistan on the same day thousands gathered across Britain to honour the Armed Forces.
Jamie Kirkpatrick, of Bryndulais Avenue, was an Army bomb disposal expert from 101 Engineer Regiment.
He was killed on Sunday during a firefight with Taliban insurgents while back home 80,000 people descended on Cardiff for Armed Forces Day to show their support to our troops.
He had been undertaking his day to day task of disposing of explosive devices when the Taliban attacked.
Incident
Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The soldier was part of an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team that was extracting from an incident when he was killed by small arms fire.
"He died seeking to rid Helmand of IEDs so that local Afghans could move freely throughout the province."
He added: "He will be greatly missed and his actions will not be forgotten.
"We will remember him."
Jamie leaves behind Heidi Kirkpatrick, who he is understood to have married two years ago.
The pair have a young daughter together.
His next of kin have been informed of the death, which happened in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.
The Llanelli community has already begun to pay tribute to the soldier who becomes the 309th armed forces member to die during the Afghan conflict.
On social networking site Facebook, Colin O'Sullivan said: "RIP Jamie, to live in hearts you left behind, is not to die."
Matt Emery added: "RIP big fella."
Gwyn Daniel, chairman of Llanelli Veterans Association, said: "Members are once again saddened to hear about the death of a British solider, especially one from Llanelli.
"We offer the family our full support and will assist them in any way possible."
On Sunday members of the Royal British Legion marched past the Legion headquarters and the memorial gardens in Burry Port as part of Armed Forces Day.
And yesterday night the Llanelli Veterans Association held a lowering of the flag ceremony to commemorate the end of Armed Forces Day.
Mr Daniel said: "The significance of the service is far more poignant now."
Llanelli mayor Dyfrig Thomas has also paid tribute.
He said: "It is with great sorrow that we learn of this tragic death so we extend our sympathies to his entire family."
Jamie Kirkpatrick's grandfather Roy Brown used to represent Llanelli Town Council.
Mr Thomas added: "Those of us who worked with Roy Brown on the town council obviously offer our sympathies to his family during this difficult time."
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