Worthing soldier back on home soil (From The Argus)
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Worthing soldier back on home soil
7:20pm Friday 4th May 2012 in News
The repatriation of Worthing guardsman Michael Roland at RAF Brize Norton – Richard Watt , MOD/Crown
The body of a Worthing soldier was yesterday flown home.
Guardsman Michael Roland, from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was shot while on patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.
The 22-year-old had been in Afghanistan for less than four weeks when he died of injuries last Friday.
The father of twins joined the Army in 2009.
His body was flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire before the cortege made its way through nearby Carterton on its way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
He was deployed to Afghanistan on April 3 where he was based at Main Operating Base Price near Gereshk.
Part of the company team charged with searching compounds on a three-day operation, he died a day later.
His CO Lt Col James Bowder described him as “sparky, diligent and super-fit”, his family said he was “a loving and caring son”.
