Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2009, Lance Corporal Richard James Brandon of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was killed in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit an IED. He was the driver of a Samson repair and recovery vehicle, and was carrying out an essential resupply task. He had enlisted into the army in 2001 and after completing training spent two years as a vehicle mechanic. He was then posted to 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, and served in Iraq. He is remembered as being a superb vehicle mechanic who was dedicated and absolutely loved his work, and would stay up until three in the morning if that's what it took to get the job done if it was one of his vehicles, nothing would stop him from fixing it himself. Captain Dave Bunker said: “LCpl Richie Brandon was a great vehicle mechanic, a great soldier and an even greater friend to all of us in The Light Dragoons’ Light Aid Detachment. At the time of his death he was deployed independently with his troop, doing what he did best. He excelled at keeping his vehicles moving; what made him special was that he always did it with a huge smile on his face. He was the most incredibly driven man. LCpl Brandon was perpetually scruffy, wearing his oil-stained coveralls like a badge of honour and he successfully contrived to lose every clean set that he was ever given. He was a quiet man, with a cheeky sense of fun that never failed to lift our spirits. He had a heart of gold and never had a bad word to say about anything or anyone. We have been privileged to have such a talented and dedicated man in the Light Aid Detachment; his loss has been felt keenly by his many friends in theatre.” Richard, from Kidderminster was 24 years old and engaged to be married, with a daughter and two step-sons.