Latest army victim was casualty replacement

A BRITISH soldier killed while on patrol in Afghanistan had been deployed to the country as a battle casualty replacement, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.

Lance Corporal Jonathan James McKinlay, of The First Battalion The Rifles, was killed by a burst of small arms fire on Wednesday while on patrol with his team and members of the Afghan Uniformed Police in a village near his checkpoint in Helmand Province.

He was described by his comrades as “a man of great compassion, humour and somebody who had time for others”.

L/Cpl McKinlay, 33, from Darlington, was sent to Afghanistan in June, having recently qualified as a mortar fire controller.

A father of one and stepfather of two, he was based at Checkpoint Chaabak in the Nahr-e-Saraj South district of Helmand, where he came under fire.

Having joined the army in 1996, he had previously been deployed to Northern Ireland and Iraq as well as Afghanistan.

His comrades said his “forthcoming and happy” approach would be sorely missed across the battalion.

He leaves his wife Lisa, mother Valerie, sister Becca, daughter Megan, and stepchildren Ollie and Piper. His wife said: “We are all deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jonathan, affectionately known as ‘JJ’, also known as ‘Commander Meerkat McKinlay’.

“He was a loving husband, son, brother, son-in-law and father to Megan, Ollie and Piper. He was a true friend to others and a loving husband, a real joker and my one in a million.”

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox expressed his sadness at the soldier’s death. “Throughout the 15 years he served in the army, he showed great professionalism and commitment,” he said.

“L/Cpl McKinlay’s skills were of great value to his battalion, but it is clear from the tributes paid by his colleagues and friends that it is his personality and enthusiasm which will be missed above all.”

The killing takes the number of British troops who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 381.