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LANCE
CORPORAL JAMES HILL
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
It is with extreme sadness that the Battalion must
confirm the death of Lance Corporal James Hill of the
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards in Afghanistan on 8
October 2009.
Lance Corporal Hill was killed as a result of an
explosion that happened near to Camp Bastion in Helmand
Province
Lance Corporal James Hill
 Lance
Corporal Hill, aged 23 from Redhill in Surrey, was an
outstanding Junior Non Commissioned Officer with
excellent prospects. He started training in Autumn 2005
and passed out into the Battalion in Spring 2006.
He conducted State Ceremonial in London District
throughout the summer of 2006 from Windsor before moving
to the Mortar Platoon in time for Exercise African Thorn
in South Africa during early 2007.
Lance Corporal Hill then immersed himself into
pre-deployment training for OP HERRICK 7. He was quickly
identified as an excellent mortarman and he soon became
a No 1 in a Section, the senior post for a mortar
number. It was in this post that he deployed on OP
HERRICK 7 and he spent the tour in FOB KEENAN with No 3
Company Group.
This was a busy tour and his mortar section was fully
involved in numerous engagements in support of the
Company as they fought the enemy in that part of the
Upper Gereshk Valley . After this highly successful tour
he was sent on a Junior Non Commissioned Officer’s cadre
and passed with a very high standard.
In January 2009 he was sent on his Mortar Standards
Course for which he received a Highly Competent pass
proving his considerable abilities. During the summer he
qualified as a Joint Fires Coordinator proving his
understanding of the wider Joint Fires battle that is
often fought in Helmand Province .
He was again very involved with the pre-deployment
training prior to deploying as a Mortar Fire Controller
‘B’ for No 1 Company Group.
Lance Corporal Hill was a personable, motivated and
intelligent warrior. He nurtured those under his Command
whilst constantly striving to be better by learning from
his superiors. He was enthusiastic and energetic about
his job and was excited by the prospect of serving in
Afghanistan as a Mortar Fire Controller. He was every
ounce a model Coldstreamer.
Lance Corporal Hill was engaged to Anastasia Newman. He
was an only child and very close to his family.
His
loving parents, Brian and Claire, said:
"James was the finest son we could have possibly asked
for, we are immensely proudof who he is and all that he
has done. James was immensely caring and always there
for us and everyone who needed him, spending time with
family and friends was what meant the most to him."
His fiancée, Anastasia said:
"James was the most wonderful, caring and loving man you
could ever meet and touched the lives of every person he
met. James is and always will be the love of my life and
I feel so grateful to have had the time I had with him.
He will live on forever in my heart and memories until
we are together again."
Lieutenant Colonel Toby W Gray, Commanding Officer 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards said of him:
"Lance Corporal Hill was, from the very start of his
career, a soldier with the most outstanding qualities.
His drive to be the best was constant and he was a man
with commendable ambitions within the Army. His
qualities really came to the fore prior to OP HERRICK 7
when he was selected, as a relatively junior Guardsman,
to be a No 1 in a mortar section. He thrived on the
challenge of the job as well as the added responsibility
that it demanded of him. He rose to the task with
typical gusto and determination.
"During OP HERRICK 7 he was based in FOB KEENAN at a
time when the conditions were austere, the offensive
action frequent and the call for mortars continuous. His
actions throughout the tour were in line with what we
all began to expect from him; Second to None.
"As his Commanding Officer I was very proud to promote
him in late 2008 to the rank of LCpl after he produced a
commendable result on his Junior Non Commissioned
Officer Cadre. The added burden of Command clearly
inspired him and he went straight onto his Mortar
Standards Course on which he once again did extremely
well. Lance Corporal Hill was relishing this tour with
his new found skill of being a Mortar Fire Controller.
"He was a ray of light for the future of the Mortar
Platoon with his skills, current experience and thirst
for knowledge and it is a tragedy that he has been taken
from us so early in his life.
"Lance Corporal Hill was, quite simply, superb at
everything he did. He was personable, intelligent, fit
and ambitious. His humour, coupled with his energy,
singled him out as a popular and respected Junior Non
Commissioned Officer.
"Our loss is huge but that of his family, fiancé and
friends is even greater. My deepest condolences go out
to them at this very sad time."
Major Toby PO Till, Number 1 Company Commander 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards, said:
"I had only known Lance Corporal Hill the short time
that he was attached to No 1 Company but it was clear
from first meeting him that he was every ounce a
professional and relishing the opportunity to prove
himself in his new appointment as a Mortar Fire
Controller. He had bags of enthusiasm and an infectious
energy and clearly loved his job but more importantly
was enormously popular in the Mortar Platoon and the
Company Group.
"He was simply one of those ‘good blokes’ in life and he
will be sorely missed by everyone in the Company. Our
thoughts are with his family and fiancée Anastasia."
Captain Nicholas Powell, Mortar Platoon Commander 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards, said:
"Lance Corporal Hill was a man of outstanding ability
and character. Intelligent and physically robust, Lance
Corporal Hill was an exemplary operator in the field
whose technical skill as a Mortar Fire Controller were
unrivalled by a man of his age and experience. He
inspired the Guardsmen under his command and earned the
greatest respect from his Commanders.
"Lance Corporal Hill’s loyalty to both the Platoon and
to the mission was exhaustive; his mindset was selfless.
He was an asset that cannot be replaced. My deepest
condolences go to Lance Corporal Hill’s family, friends
and fiancée. The Platoon will miss him dearly."
LCpl Hill in a pre-deployment photograph of the Mortar
Platoon, LCpl Hill is sat on the front rank extreme
left.
Sergeant Tony Bolton, Mortar Platoon Sergeant 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards, said:
"Jimmy Hill was a true soldier, a warrior, a brother and
a friend to us all. His loss will leave a hole in our
platoon and hearts that will never be filled, I will
miss him. Jimmy’s passion for the platoon was second to
none. He strove to be the best he could be always, his
character and nature was an example and inspiration to
all.
"Jimmy will be in our thoughts and actions every single
day while we are here, and mine forever."
Lance Sergeant Stephen Walker, Mortar Platoon Alpha MFC
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, said:
"Jimmy was an exceptional soldier and an even better
friend, not only to me but to the whole of the Mortar
Platoon. The fact that Jimmy is no longer with us has
left behind a space that can never be filled again. He
will be sadly missed but never forgotten. My heart goes
out to his friends and family at home, in particular his
parents and fiancée Anastasia."
Lance
Corporal Matthew Cutting, best friend of James, said
"Jimmy was one of the battalion’s best soldiers and one
of my closest friends. He was a very professional
soldier. Despite being highly committed to the job he
could always find time for his friends. I will never
forget all the great times I had with him, from the
insane times sky diving in France to having a beer with
him and all the mortar boys.
"He was a big inspiration to us all and will be missed
badly and will never be forgotten. My thoughts and
prayers go out to his family and friends. Rest in Peace
Jimmy."
Guardsman Luke Fitzpatrick, close friend, said:
"Jimmy was a great and close friend not only to me but
to everyone he knew as well as being a phenomenal leader
and inspirational to us all. Jimmy was an excellent
morale raiser, and could always find a way of making me
and the rest of the boys smile no matter how bad times
got.
"The other great quality Jimmy had was how he could get
us out in the evening socialising with each other down
the pub even if it was on a school night or if we had an
arduous task the following day. It’s for this reason we
all owe him thanks, because it’s the reason why all the
mortar boys are all so close to each other.
"The world won’t be the same without you Jimmy and never
will be. So to that end our thoughts go to your family
and friends back home. You will always be remembered by
us all and you will never be forgotten."
Guardsman Myles Coleman said:
"Jimmy was one of the finest soldiers the British army
will see. He was morale to the lads and a very good
friend to everyone. I only knew Jimmy for a year but as
soon as I met him we became great friends instantly and
after work, if there was nothing to do he would always
find a way for the platoon to get together even if it
was from a couple down at the pub or having a laugh in
the foyer.
"He was a great mortarman, a great leader but mostly he
was an extremely good friend. He will never be forgotten
and forever missed. MORTARS OR YOU’RE NOT!!!"
Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth:
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Lance
Corporal James Hill. He was clearly a talented mortarman
who had quickly earned the respect of his colleagues and
shown excellent prospects.
"My thoughts and condolences are with his family, his
fiancée, colleagues and friends at this sad time."
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