
Obituary for Lance Corporal W Bonner
It is with great regret that The Regiment must mark the death of Lance Corporal William Bonner, of the 2nd Battalion. Lance Corporal Bonner died on 26 May 2009 at Basset Law District Hospital with his wife and family at his side. He was 25.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1984, Lance Corporal Bonner attended the Priory Lincoln School. On leaving he found employment as a landscape gardener before deciding to join the Army. He joined the 2nd Battalion in September 2002, whilst the Battalion was based in Chepstow. Initially he joined A (Lincolnshire) Company with whom he deployed on Op FINGAL to Afghanistan and Op BANNER to Northern Ireland.
He immediately settled into the Battalion and quickly gained the respect of his peer group for his maturity and sense of humour. At the end of the Op BANNER tour his initiative and reliability earned him a posting to Hereford in an administrative support role.
On returning to the Poachers, now based in Ternhill, Lance Corporal Bonner was selected to join the Sniper Platoon, a long held ambition. On joining the Platoon he immediately deployed to Iraq with the Battalion on Op TELIC 8, which was by then half way through the 6 month tour. The Platoon was based in the now long abandoned Shatt-al-Arab Hotel in the North of Basra City. During his first patrol a major incident ensued where one of the team commanders was injured in a heavy fire-fight. After performing admirably in the incident he returned to camp and asked his commander: “Sergeant, are all patrols like this?” The reply was: “No Will, that was your induction and you passed”. With his trademark quick wit he retorted: “Good, that’s not something you want re-testing on!” Such exchanges and humour in adverse conditions were typical of the man and were critical in maintaining the morale of those around him. During the same deployment he also had a key role in a number of successes for his multiple, most notable amongst them being the discovery of a large Improvised Explosive Device. Whilst on a foot patrol he noticed an unusual object on the side of the road and passed the information to his commander. His actions and the resulting discovery of the largest passive infra red device thus far in Basra undoubtedly saved lives. He was honoured with a General Officer Commanding’s Commendation for his actions.
On return from Iraq he successfully completed the demanding Recce and Sniper Course in Warminster and Brecon in February 2007, thus realising his dream of becoming a Sniper. In the following year he displayed hard work, confidence and professional ability and hence was selected to attend the last Potential Junior Non Commisioned Officers’ Cadre run by the Battalion. He showed a high level of commitment and ability and was often a source of advice and support to those less able. He was successful on the course and was immediately promoted in March 2008.
In command his first responsibility was as a team member in the Armageddon Platoon, during Op TELIC 12, where he provided close support to Special Force Operations in Basra. Unfortunately it was during his mid-tour leave from Iraq that he was diagnosed with his terminal illness and hence could not return to his Platoon for the remainder of the tour.
His life was not all soldiering; he always strove to take part in as many activities as possible and took advantage of the opportunities presented to him. As a founder member of the Poachers’ Angling Club in Ternhill, he often found time to escape to the waterways of Shropshire to unwind and pursue his hobby. Also on the sporting front he ran out for the Battalion Football Team on a number of occasions, though could only make it when his Facebook Diary allowed! In his precious spare time he was also an avid fan of the guitar, both playing and listening to the music of others.
In his last few months, though at home with terminal illness, he remained resolute in fighting his illness with courage and steely determination. He kept in touch with the Battalion right until the end, even travelling to Germany from the UK just 2 weeks before he passed away. According to his father he was: “the happiest he had seen Will in months, just sat amongst the banter with his close friends”.
Lance Corporal Will Bonner was an outstanding soldier and commander. He had very high personal standards, was always calm and was well respected both in his Platoon and throughout the Battalion. He was absolutely loyal and had a large group of friends who enjoyed his dry sense of humour and positive personality. He will be sorely missed. All members of the Battalion extend their sympathies to his wife Fran and to his family.
DJH