Town falls silent for repatriation (From Swindon Advertiser)

Town falls silent for repatriation

1:05pm Friday 9th May 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

PEOPLE in Wootton Bassett once again stood silently for the repatriation of a soldier killed while serving in Afghanistan.

Household Cavalry Regiment Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29, from Fiji, was caught in a mine strike on Friday, May 2.

Three other soldiers were injured when the explosion hit their vehicle.

They had been providing protection for a routine patrol in the Nowzad area of northern Helmand.

The four soldiers were all members of the regiment's D Squadron and were based at Windsor. They were part of the same regiment as princes William and Harry.

Yesterday, Trooper Babakobau's body was taken off a C17 transport plane at RAF Lyneham, where a small service took place.

It was then transported in a hearse with a police escort.

Residents lined Wootton Bassett's High Street to pay their respects, before the body was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

After his death was announced, princes William and Harry, paid tribute to Trooper Babakobau, who was a member of Prince William's 60-strong squadron.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "Together with the rest of the regiment both Prince William and Prince Harry are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Trooper Babakobau and their thoughts are with his family and the families of those injured at this difficult time."

Lieutenant Colonel Harry Fullerton, a Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, said: "He was an outstanding soldier, who was destined for great things in the Regiment.

"His loss is an enormous tragedy to the Household Cavalry.

"We have lost a top soldier and his family have lost a loving husband and father."

Trooper Babakobau joined the Army in 2004.

He was sent to Afghanistan last month, which was his first deployment on operations overseas.

He leaves behind wife Camari and two boys Ratu Seru, three, and Ratu Sakeasi, who had his second birthday yesterday.

Trooper Babakobau was the 95th member of British services personnel to die in Afghanistan since 2001.