Fijian is fifth Black Watch casualty

By JONATHAN BROWN

The fifth Black Watch soldier to die since the British troops were sent to cover for American Marines south of Baghdad was named yesterday as Private Pita Tukutukuwaqa of Fiji.

The 27-year-old sniper was killed instantly when the Warrior armoured vehicle he was driving on patrol hit a wire-controlled roadside bomb on Tuesday.


Two other soldiers were injured in the blast and were airlifted to a military hospital in Baghdad.

Tukutukuwaqa, who was married and whose wife lives in Suva, had served in Kosovo and Iraq since joining the Black Watch in Britain in March 2001.

He was described as an "outstanding sportsman" who represented his regiment at rugby.


"He will be dearly missed by his regiment and his friends," said his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Cowan

"Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."

Concern has been mounting for the safety of British troops in central Iraq.

Three members of the Black Watch, Private Paul Lowe, Sergeant Stuart Gray and Private Scott McArdle, all from Fife, were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the notorious "triangle of death" last week.

Two bomb disposal experts from the battle group were seriously injured by a suicide car bomber on Monday.

The first fatality came when Private Kevin McHale, 27, a soldier from the Black Watch, was killed when his Warrior overturned.

Yesterday, 500 mourners attended his funeral service at Lochgelly in Fife at the church where he worshipped as a boy. He was buried with full military honours.

Cowan, commander of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, said the military was developing its tactics and bringing in equipment to help counter the lethal attacks.

Tukutukuwaqa's death has drawn attention to the large number of Fijians serving in the British Army.

Fiji became independent from Britain in 1970, but military chiefs have found the country a fertile recruiting ground as the number of Britons willing to serve has decreased.

Fijians fought with British soldiers in World War II, and have served in Malaya, Borneo, Oman and now Iraq.

Part of the foundation for this well-established military tradition is that many Fijians hold the British royal family in high esteem.

But a bigger part is the high unemployment and low wages at home that have created the lure of serving the former colonial power.

A Fiji Embassy spokesman in London said more than 2000 Fijians were with British regiments.

Major Charles Heyman, senior defence analyst for Jane's Consultancy Group, said: "They are just normal guys, just like our guys. They make very, very good infantry soldiers."

The Scottish regiments have proved particularly attractive to the Fijians.

Dozens of military bandsmen were enticed to to Scotland after taking part in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Many have excelled at sport, particularly rugby.

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Herald Feature: Iraq