Ian Fisher named as British soldier killed in suicide blast in Afghanistan

Off By Sharon Black

Ian Michael Fisher was a ‘doting father’ and a ‘true professional soldier’, his wife says

A British soldier killed in a suicide blast while on patrol in Afghanistan has been named as Warrant Officer Class 2 Ian Michael Fisher from the 3rd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment (Staffords).

Fisher, 42, who worked as a sergeant major for a company of Warrior fighting vehicles, died from an explosion during a vehicle-borne suicide attack.

The Ministry of Defence said he was killed on the final day of a two-day operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the vicinity of Kamparak, 25 miles north east of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.

During a meeting with Afghan National Security Forces, his vehicle was struck by what was described as a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

Fisher was evacuated by air to the military hospital at Camp Bastion, where it was confirmed that he had been killed in action.

He is the 446th UK service member to die in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001 – and is the eighth service member this year.

The 42-year-old physics and geology graduate, who was born in Barking in Essex, joined the Territorial Army in February 1993 with B Company, 3 Staffords, based in Stoke-on-Trent.

After completing his degree at Staffordshire University, and following three and a half years’ service as a reservist lance corporal, he volunteered to go to Hong Kong in August 1996 as a Regular Private with B Company, 1st Battalion the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s).

He completed four previous operational tours from 1999 – once to Northern Ireland, twice to Iraq and a previous tour of Afghanistan in 2011.

Fisher leaves his wife, Emma, two sons, James, seven, and William, five, and his parents, Simon and Helen.

Paying tribute, Emma said: “Ian will always be the centre of my life, he will be remembered as a doting father, loving husband and a true professional soldier.

“He loved being a soldier, that’s what he lived for. We are all so proud and always will be.”

The MoD said Fisher’s colleagues described him as “the epitome of an infantry sergeant major, straight talking and obsessive in his pursuit of excellence and gaining the most from his subordinates while ensuring their wellbeing”.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies, Commanding Officer, the 3rd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) said: “To lose a soldier in combat is a tragedy that hits any unit hard but to lose a warrant officer of WO2 Ian Fisher’s calibre and standing in such a tight-knit family regiment is a huge blow that has left the whole battalion numb.”

Lieutenant Colonel James Roddis, Commanding Officer, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Manoeuvre Battlegroup, said: “We will remember WO2 Fisher as an exceptional man, soldier and leader.

“4 Scots knew him well, having served with him both in Canada last year and now in Afghanistan.

“An archetypal sergeant major, he inspired those around him with his confidence and professionalism. No matter what the situation, Sergeant Major Fisher’s composure was catching and he had a calming influence on all …read more