Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2009, Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, died whilst carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in southern Nad e-Ali, Helmand province.

He had completed training in August of 2007 and within two weeks had joined 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan for the last two months of their Op HERRICK 6 tour. On returning to the UK he completed a JNCO cadre and was soon promoted to Lance Corporal. He deployed to Afghanistan as a Section Second-in-Command within C (Essex) Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Battle Group.

His C.O. said of him: "Lance Corporal Drane was a thoroughbred soldier with huge potential; having already served with distinction in Afghanistan in 2007 as part of B Company it was no surprise that he stood out amongst his peers as someone special when he moved to C Company in the summer of 2009. After nearly two months of almost daily engagements with the enemy, of which the majority were fierce and unrelenting, he remained hardy, focused and full of resolve. His stoical nature made those around him stronger and his sense of humour and genuine compassion for his fellow men allowed him to create a confident and extremely capable team. Lance Corporal Drane was naturally brave and courageous, and convincingly demonstrated this in the boxing ring as well as on the battlefield. A true inspiration to others, his absence will leave an irreplaceable gap within the ranks of C (Essex) Company." Adam, from Bury St. Edmonds, was 23 years old and engaged to be married.