Tributes to Perham officer killed in Afghanistan (From This is Hampshire)

Tributes to Perham officer killed in Afghanistan

9:39am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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THE Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Perham Down based Captain Ben Babington-Browne from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Monday.

The incident took place during takeoff in Zabul province, at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mescall.

Two Canadian soldiers were also killed in the crash.

Captain Babington-Browne was working in the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) headquarters of regional command (south) and was visiting FOB Mescall as part of an ISAF team to undertake an engineering survey of the Romanian forward base.

Captain Ben Babington-Browne was born on 17 October 1981 and grew up in Maidstone. After Sandhurst he joined 22 Engineer Regiment in April 2007.

He deployed shortly afterwards to Iraq as a troop commander in 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron where he quickly showed that he was an exceptionally gifted leader.

Captain Ben Babington-Browne's mother Nina, said: “Ben is a much loved son, brother and nephew who had a huge personality and will be so missed by his family and friends who are all heartbroken by his untimely death.

We are all immensely proud of all his considerable achievements in his short life."

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Noble commander of 22 Engineer Regiment, said: "Captain Ben Babington-Browne was an outstanding officer who had an extremely bright future in the British Army.

“Everyone in 22 Engineer Regiment is shocked and saddened beyond measure by his tragic death in Afghanistan.

“It is hard to accept that such a shining light has gone from this world.

"I have rarely met a man who was so widely liked and respected in a regiment. On meeting him when I joined 22 Engineer Regiment, Ben immediately impressed me as a man of genuine purpose and penetrating intellect.”

Fellow troop commander, Lieutenant Gemma Mason Royal Engineers, said: “Ben and I spent many weekends as 'mess orphans' in the mess together, which was typically 'amazing'.

“He was known as B3 and he was a definite character among our peers.

“We jointly led a hill-walking expedition to Iceland last summer and he loved the eccentricities of Reykjavik and enjoyed every aspect of its arty culture.

“This interest in anything different and slightly wacky manifested itself in the 'moustache tree' that he decorated in the TV room and the old school war posters in his office.”

"I'm honoured to have had the pleasure to call him a colleague and a friend. Gone, but never forgotten."

Troop Staff Sergeant, Staff Sergeant Richie Hines, said: "As a troop commander he had an amazing sense of humour, something that would lift the troop in the most awkward situations, or break an uneasy silence.

“As a Staff Sergeant when you are given your troop commander you are there to guide, support and mentor him to be a professional officer.

“This was an easy job for me, as he was the real deal, and I feel he improved me as much, if not more, than I did him.”