LCpl Adam Drane was killed in action on 7 December 2009 while carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in Southern Nad-e’Ali, Helmand Province. He had deployed to Afghanistan as a section Second in Command within C (Essex) Company, attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Battlegroup. He was employed within 6 Platoon and was charged with engaging with and reassuring the local population, as well as defeating the insurgents in one of Helmand’s most challenging areas; he had been completing this task for nearly two months.

LCpl Drane was born in Bury St Edmunds on 24 July 1986. He completed his training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick on 15 August 2007 and, within two weeks, had joined the Battalion in Afghanistan for the last two months of their Op Herrick 6 tour. On returning to the UK he completed a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Cadre and was soon promoted to Lance Corporal. Prior to deploying to Afghanistan for his second tour, he had completed a number of demanding field exercises in the UK as well as achieving a semi-final place in the Inter Company Boxing Championships of 2009. LCpl Drane leaves behind a close and loving family and his beloved fiancée Sian, who he was planning to marry directly after the tour.

Quietly confident, Cpl Drane was an extremely kind individual who had a wonderful sense of humour. He was well known and respected across the Battalion as a soldier, but was particularly renowned for his love of music and guitars. He was very much career orientated and was looking forward to completing the demanding Section Commanders’ Battle Course after the tour.

WM

Maj Christopher Davies,
Officer Commanding C (Essex) Company, adds:

LCpl Adam 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. LCpl Drane was naturally brave and courageous, convincingly demonstrating this in the boxing ring as well as the battlefield. A true inspiration to others, his absence will leave an irreplaceable gap within the ranks of C (Essex) Company. Such a tragic loss of life is hard to comprehend, but will be most acutely felt by LCpl Drane’s fiancée and family who meant so much to him and our thoughts are firmly lodged with them.