LCpl Craig John Roberts died on Saturday 13th July 2013, whilst taking part in the selection process for the Reserve Special Forces. He was one of three soldiers on the exercise who died.

Craig was aged 24, born on 12th May 1989 and lived in Lewisham. He enlisted into the Reserve Forces on 14th October 2007 for training as a Territorial Army Sponsored Officer assigned to East Midlands University Officer Training Corps (EMUOTC). He also trained with C Company, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, based at Leicester. During his time with the Reserves, he was fully involved and active in all military training and he completed an overseas training exercise (Ex GLOW WORM) in Texas USA with the Steelbacks. He also completed MTQ1 with EMUOTC and P Company. In July 2010 Craig completed his university studies, gaining a 2:1 in Mathematics from Leicester University and entered full Reserve Forces service with the Steelbacks. He volunteered and was mobilised on Operation TOSCA to Cyprus for duty with the United Nations in 2011. Always looking for more adventure, in July 2012 he became a trainee recruit with 21 Special Air Service.

In his civilian life, Craig was employed as a teaching assistant after university, and had recently started working for the Department of Education and was due to take up his post in August 2013. He played piano, liked going to the theatre and enjoyed running.

Craig’s funeral, with full military honours, was sponsored by the 3rd Battalion with the Bearer Party being kindly provided by the 2nd Battalion. This took place at Holy Trinity Church in Llandudno, North Wales on Thursday 8th August 2013. It was attended by fellow Steelbacks, close friends, EMUOTC, 21 SAS and his family. This was followed by a private cremation service for his close family and friends at Colwyn Bay Crematorium.

3rd Battalion Chaplain, the Reverend Paul Whitehead, told mourners, “Our hearts and thoughts and prayers are also with the families of Edward Maher and James Dunsby who also died during the exercise.”

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Morris, Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion, paid tribute to LCpl Roberts before the funeral began. He said “Craig was a talented young man with a bright future ahead of him, both as an army reservist and in his wider civilian life. He was the epitome of the can-do volunteer ethos, and successfully managed the demanding commitment of an Army Reservist, initially with his university studies and latterly with his employment within the teaching sector. Craig will be missed dearly by everyone who knew him – his family, his friends, his colleagues and his comrades in the wider army. We will miss him greatly and we will remember him.”

Tributes were also paid by Major Mark Bevin, from EMUOTC, and by LCpl Roberts’ closest friends. Major Bevin said, “he was a man of integrity and a role model for the younger Officer Cadets in his platoon”, friend Richard Falconer added, “Craig Roberts was simply the best man I have ever known.”

Holidaymakers and locals applauded as LCpl Roberts’s coffin draped with the Union Flag, was driven through the seaside town from the Church to the Crematorium.

Our deepest sympathies are extended to Craig’s parents, Kelvin and Margaret Roberts who live together in Llandudno North Wales.

RDH