SIMON MILLERCorporal Simon Miller, who died in Iraq on 24 June, 2003, aged 21, served in the Military Police as a radio operator with 156 Provost Company.Described simply as "a brilliant guy" by his commander, he was engaged to be married upon finishing his tour, which would have come to an end in July, 2003.He had recently been promoted to corporal and was close to his brother, fellow soldier Lance Corporal Jon Miller.He also left behind his beloved fiancee Emma, and his parents John and Marilyn.Corporal Simon Miller came from Washington, Tyne and Wear, and showed early sportsmanship in his school days, being particularly skilled at football.By the age of 12 he had achieved a black belt in karate and a place at the Sunderland AFC School of Excellence.He also captained the football team at his school and was selected to represent the Durham and Chester-le-Street team.At one point he tried for Cambridge United, and trained on their grounds regularly until he joined the Army as a red cap in January, 2000. He continued to play football in the Army, representing his unit.Corporal Miller was posted to 156 Provost Company after passing the RMP junior non-commissioned officers' course at Chichester, and served with 1 PARA on a deployment to Kenya. It was his last operation before he was killed in action in southern Iraq.He was one of six soldiers to die on 24 June, 2003, when they were attacked at a civilian police station in Al Majar al-Kabir, near Basra, where they had been training local officers. The other five soliders were Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, Corporal Russell Aston, Corporal Paul Long, Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde and Lance Corporal Thomas Keys.His commander Captain Hibbert said at his funeral: "In giving this tribute I can only scratch at the surface of what was a brilliant guy. He lived in a world in which spades were called spades, he faced police work head-on and was a real asset to the unit."His commanding officer, Major Bryn Parry Jones said of him: "There are no words that can adequately describe the high regard he was held in. He was a bright, conscientious and thoroughly professional MP."His parents also paid tribute to their son and said: "He loved the Army and was one hundred per cent a policeman in every sense of the word, committed to his job. He had great courage and was not afraid to stand his ground."He has an older brother, Jon, and through Simon's encouragement, Jon has just this week completed his NCOs' course at the RMP Training School in Chichester ."Simon was promoted to Corporal just before he left for Iraq and we were all really proud of him. He also loved motorbikes and rode an Army motorbike out in Iraq as well as having his own back in the UK."He was due to finish his tour in July and planned to marry when he returned home. He was our life - he was a lovely lad and very close to his family and fiancee. Words can't describe how much we all love him and miss him."
Keep me informed of updates
