UK soldier killed in Iraq named

Cpl Christopher Read was injured by small arms fire

A British soldier killed in Iraq has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Cpl Christopher Read, 22, from Poole, Dorset, of 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police died in hospital on Saturday.

He was taken to the field hospital of Basra Air Station following an operation against insurgents.

L/Cpl Ryan Francis, 23, from Llanelli, south Wales, was killed in Basra on the same day, bringing the UK services death toll in the conflict to 159.

'Rising star'

Two other soldiers were injured in the operation, which involved 1,000 troops.

The MoD said Cpl Read was injured by small arms fire while returning from the operation in the early hours of the morning.

He was a warm and modest young man with a wicked sense of fun Col Simon Miller

Cpl Read, known as Readie, was described by his colleagues as a popular soldier with a love of cars.

Lt Col Simon Miller, Commanding Officer 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, said Cpl Read was a "rising star".

He added: "He was a warm and modest young man with a wicked sense of fun.

"He was mature and level headed and all these qualities marked him out as a particularly effective policeman.

"Chris was also a brave soldier, always volunteering to be in the thick of it; he would never shrink from danger."

Major Jan Waring, Officer Commanding 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, said Cpl Read "always had time for a smile and chat for everyone he met".

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "Chris Read was a very popular, professional and effective military policeman.

"His loss will be deeply felt by his colleagues in Iraq."