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General Melchett · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject: L/Cpl Matt Ford

For those of you that don't know. Matt was a very good friend of mine, he was the driver of my Green Goddess during Op. FRESCO. He was serving in CLR then before being deployed on TELIC. Always a larger than life character, he made my job both a nightmare and a pleasure. He was drafted to 45 after CLR and deployed on Op. HERRICK in the autumn, and was tragically killed yesterday carrying out the job he loved, whilst on ops with his Coy.

His rescue by two apaches and 4 marines is documented below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6269613.stm

RIP Matt
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RAB · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject:

Yet another of our family killed doing what they do best. A very sad loss to his family and Fiancee, and a very brave effort by his oppos to rescue him in such a manner..

RIP
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'Never moon a werewolf'.

Hey Nonny · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:52 am Post subject:

I was watching BBC news this lunchtime with a colleague. I didn't know Matt personally but I still feel sad on hearing of the loss of another family member, something that civvies find difficult to understand.

My thoughts as ever are with our service men and women from all arms doing a difficult job at home and abroad. God bless them all.
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Hey nonny no!
Men are fools that wish to die!
Is’t not fine to dance and sing
When the bells of death do ring?
Is’t not fine to swim in wine,
And turn upon the toe
And sing hey nonny no,
When the winds blow and the seas flow?
Hey nonny no!

Hornblower · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:31 am Post subject:

My thoughts are with his family (extended by many in his Band of Brothers) and of course with you Jos.

Men (and women) of such a high calibre do not of course deserve to die - we all see scum that are more deserving of that fate. But of course, it's exactly that high calibre which puts them in the position where many others would not even have nightmares.

Britain need not fear when such men and women exist such as Matt - and what about his comrades? What a fantastic effort they made to get him. And of course, it must not ever be forgotten - get him they did!!!

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of them. BZ's all round for those brave people willing to risk their own lives for one of their own.

RIP Matt with all comrades who have gone before you.
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ITMA!

admin · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:38 am Post subject:

A sad loss... rest in peace Matt
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townsergeant · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:41 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your chum Melch.

Like most of what happens in Afghanistan & Iraq, I follow it all with great interest.

It was clearly an act of huge braveness by the guys who rescued his body and I'm sure the members of his family, although devastated, will respect greatly what they did.

RIP Royal...
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Aaron Aardvark · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject:

Rest in Peace Matt........another sad loss.
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Siegfried · Sergeant Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 586 Location: London

Lance Corporal Ford RM R.I.P.

All Honour to your mates,who brought you home.

"NO DEAD,NO WOUNDED''
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IT'S BEEN A HELLUVA RIDE...

Jimbo · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject:

Sorry this has taken a while to reply to, but, Matt was also a colleague of mine during Op fresco, after Xmas at Weston Super Mare station, he was my opposite number Goddess driver. I would like to extend my thoughts to his family/friends/fiance etc, he was a great bloke and a sad loss to the Corps.
Rest in peace mate
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Cheers

Jim

www.corporatestix.co.uk

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Michael Thompson · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:09 pm Post subject:

I didn't know Matt either, but as HB has rightly said he was one of our band of brothers who will live forever in the bootnecks barracks in the sky. we'll all be there together one day, and we will rejoice in our brotherhood then as we do today.
R.I.P Matt
Thoughts from Australia are with your family too.

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Director of Music
Monash Concert Band
(Not even a Major)