Soldier killed in Ukraine told family to be proud

A British paratrooper killed serving in Ukraine told his family to “be proud” and not “remember him with sadness”, in a letter to be opened in the event of his death.

The body of Lance Corporal George Hooley was repatriated to RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday after his death last week.

The 28-year-old was killed while observing Ukrainian forces test “a new defensive capability, away from the front lines”, in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as a “tragic accident”.

An extract of the letter, shared at the request of L/Cpl Hooley’s family, said he “went out doing what I trained to do, what I chose to do, and I had all of you in my heart the whole way”.

“If you are reading this, it means I didn’t make it home,” he wrote.

“Please don’t let that be the thing that breaks you. You know I was doing what I believed in as well as loved, with people I respected, and for reasons that matter to me, my country and democracy and freedom in this world.

“I was proud of what I was doing. Don’t remember me with sadness and loss. Be proud.”

Earlier on Wednesday, a private ceremony was held at Brize Norton before L/Cpl Hooley’s body was carried past mourners lining the route to the Carterton Repatriation Memorial Garden.

He was due to be promoted to Corporal in January and had been given the role’s responsibilities on his deployment to Ukraine, the MoD said.

L/Cpl Hooley, who had previously been deployed to Afghanistan, Africa and Eastern Europe, was described in tributes as having a “rare gift” of “deep kindness”.

His company commander said: “If you met George Hooley, you remembered it. His energy and enthusiasm were simply extraordinary.

“He provided spark that lifted others, a drive that inspired, and a zest for life that reminded us all how to live with purpose and joy. And we loved him for it. George had a rare gift: a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone.”