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Cpl Jason Barnes

Also known as: 'Jay'.

Corporal Jason Barnes, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, was killed helping evacuate injured comrades after an enemy attack in Afghanistan on 22 July, 2008. Jason Barnes was killed in Afghanistan on the 22nd July 2008. Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, with whom Cpl Barnes was attached at the time, were injured when they came under fire while on patrol in Kajaki area of Helmand. Under heavy fire Cpl Barnes, 25, drove the Vector ambulance to the helicopter landing site to get the doctor Capt Matthew Boyd, to the casualty when he struck a mine.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died at the scene a few minutes later. His two hurt colleagues were taken to a nearby medical base by helicopter and survived.
Even though he was only 25, Jason Barnes was an experienced soldier with nine years in the army under his belt.
He hailed from Exeter and was born on 27 May, 1983. He began his training at 16 and became an armourer, a specialist role within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
He had been attached to various units and had seen action in the Balkans and Iraq before being posted to Afghanistan in February 2008, shortly after being promoted to the rank of corporal. His main role was to maintain his battalion's weaponry but he frequently volunteered to drive ambulances.
He was married to Diane and they lived in Colchester, near the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment's home base.
Company Commander, Major Grant Haywood paid tribute to Cpl Barnes' spirit and bravery: "His boundless energy and selfless commitment meant he was the first to volunteer for the most difficult tasks and relished the opportunity to deploy on the ground in whatever the role. He was not one to be left behind when there was an operation to be conducted. In his primary role as an armourer, he was first class, never one to call time when there was a job to be done. He died as he lived, placing others first and doing what he wanted to do, so well, without fear or complaint. Nothing exemplifies this more than the last moments before his passing where he helped to save the life of a colleague who was critically injured."
Warrant Officer Class 2 Martin Black, Artificer Quarter Master Sergeant said: "Cpl Barnes was an excellent tradesman with an endless knowledge of heavy weapon systems. He had not been with us for long but fitted in immediately - he was a gregarious man who we couldn't fail to like. He had a fantastic work ethic, no matter what the task - he would keep going until it was completed so that the company's weapons were always up to the job. A measure of his skill and determination was when, in the middle of a firefight with the Taliban, he stripped down a .50 calibre machine gun that was failing to fire, fixed it and got it working again for his colleagues."
Friend and colleague Private Rowan Brown said: "Jay was a man who loved his life and enjoyed his job and the challenges it presented. He prided himself on finding a solution to any problem and if he couldn't he would compensate with his unique sense of humour. He would always go out of his way to help people and never seemed to stop working. His sense of humour and his ability to talk about all and any subject for hours always seemed to make guard duty last five minutes instead of an hour. His bright personality and smile matched the red tinge his skin would adopt after the shortest period in the sun. He will be missed by all who got to know and work with him."