PAUL CONNOLLYSergeant Paul Connolly, who was found dead on Boxing Day 2004, was a 33-year-old soldier whose death was described by his commanding officer as "a terrible shock for his many comrades both in the regiment and the wider family of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers."Attached to 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, he died from a gunshot wound within the confines of Basra's Shaibah Logistic Base.Inquiries by the Royal Military Police suggested his death was not due to hostile action or suspicious circumstances."He was a highly capable soldier and a hugely popular character who was widely respected and admired," continued commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Nick Cavanagh in a statement. "He will be sorely missed."Sergeant Paul Connolly was born in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1971. Known to his comrades as 'Billy', he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1989 and became a metalsmith after completing his initial military training.He then quickly progressed through the ranks to become a master elder, "responsible for fabricating and welding a wide range of military equipments."His skills, considered by many to have been among the best in 21 Engineer Regiment, were put to the test on operations and exercises all over the world, including countries such as Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Bosnia.Deployed to southern Iraq in October, 2004, he arrived determined to help rebuild the war-torn country's infrastructure.His death brought the total number of fatalities among UK service personnel to 75.
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