Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2008, Marine Alexander Lucas from Victor Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines, was killed in Afghanistan. He was a specialist Royal Marine Assault Engineer, considered to be an extremely capable and a highly professional operator who provided intimate engineer support to the front line of the fighting troops. Therefore he was often the first man into dangerous situations, clearing the way for others to follow. Victor Company had been conducting an operation around Kajaki to clear IEDs when Marine Lucas was caught up in an explosion and sadly died on the way to hospital. A close friend said: “I first met Alex six years ago on a pre-PRMC 6, and since then I have had the honour of calling him my ‘bessy-oppo’. From training at CTCRM, our AE3’s course, Iraq and the current deployment on Herrick, Alex was the sort of bloke who would always be there, no matter what. A true ‘bootneck’ who would always shine through in a crowd. He had all the qualities of a true commando and more. Always on hand to help and mentor less experienced lads. Alex will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, but will never be forgotten by those who thought so much of him. A True Gent.” Alexander, from Southampton, was 24 years old and left behind his fiancee and baby daughter.