Red roses for the daddy he never knew: Baby Noah is cradled in his granddad's arms as his father is one of five soldiers to be repatriated from Afghanistan
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:44 PM on 17th February 2011
The bodies of five soldiers who died within a week in Afghanistan were repatriated today - including one who had never met his newborn son.
Private Robert Wood, 28, was one of two men from the Royal Logistics Corp who perished in a blaze at Camp Bastion on February 14.
He had been looking forward to returning home to Marchwood, Hampshire, to see his new son Noah when the tragedy happened.
Pvt Wood's body was flown back to Britain alongside Private Dean Hutchinson, 23, also of the Royal Logistic Corps, who perished alongside him in the Camp Bastion blaze.
The other bodies repatriated were of Private Lewis Hendry, Private Conrad Lewis and Lance Corporal Kyle Marshall.
They were flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at lunchtime today and were later driven through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett in a sombre cortege.
Pvt Wood's parents and partner, Rebecca, said in a statement: 'Rob was an adored and adoring son, partner, and father to his baby son.
'We are so immensely proud of him and he will live in our hearts forever.'
His friend and colleague Lance Corporal Taff Williams said: 'He was a proud soldier but he was even prouder of his newborn son Noah.'
Pvt Hutchinson, known as 'Hutch', from Newcastle, was a driver with the Theatre Logistic Group's Transport Troop, based at Hullavington.
His family described him as 'an amazing son, brother and boyfriend'.
Pvts Hendry, 20, and Lewis, 22, from The Parachute Regiment, were both shot in the north of Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province on February 9.
They had been on a foot patrol designed to reassure the local population and gather census information in a small village north of the Nahr-e Bughra Canal when they came under fire.
Pvt Hendry, of the Regiment's 3rd Battalion, from Norwich, was killed just three days before his 21st birthday.
In a tribute, his family said: 'Words can't describe how much he will be missed. He was not only a soldier, a son, brother and grandson but a friend to all.'
Pvt Lewis, of the 4th Battalion, from Bournemouth, was carrying out duties as part of the Fire Support Group.
Paying their respects, his family said: 'He always considered others before himself, which made him the most fantastic and loving; son, brother, boyfriend, friend and colleague.
'He carried this trait into his work in Afghanistan and he knew that together with his unit he was making a big difference.'
Lance Corporal Kyle Marshall, 23, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed on 14 February in Helmand Province in an explosion.
He was deployed on an operation to reassure local people in an area south of the Nahr-e Saraj District when he was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device
.
Lance Corporal Marshall, from Newcastle, was due to marry his fiancee Hayley in July when he returned home from his tour of duty.
His family said he was 'a very lively, outgoing, loving and much-loved son' who would be sadly missed.
Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison said Lance Corporal Marshall had led his team in the discovery of a 'huge bomb-making factory' just minutes before his death.
He said: 'This discovery will undoubtedly save numerous colleagues and locals falling prey to the most insidious of insurgent threats.'
The deaths took the number of UK military personnel who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 357.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358063/Newborn-mourners-soldiers-killed-Afghanistan-repatriated.html#ixzz1EGCH5mZz
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