In Remembrance: Private Richard Hunt — 2 Royal Welsh, Musa Qalah, August 2009
Private Richard “Hunty” Hunt, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, died on 15 August 2009 from wounds sustained near Musa Qalah two days earlier. He was 21.
A Company, 2 Platoon
Richard joined 2 Royal Welsh in April 2008 and was posted to A Company, 2 Platoon. He trained as a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle driver and was also developing as a sniper.
The MOD record describes him as fit, enthusiastic and dependable, with clear leadership potential. When A Company’s Afghanistan deployment was announced he prepared intensely for it and was regarded as someone who actively sought to improve his soldiering.
13–15 August 2009
On the morning of 13 August, Richard was part of an A Company vehicle patrol near Musa Qalah when the patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device.
He was seriously wounded and evacuated to the United Kingdom. He died at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak, on 15 August 2009.
Remembering Hunty
The official tributes remember a strong, selfless soldier who was quick to help others, took pride in his work and was determined to become a sniper. Friends and commanders also remembered his humour and the energy he brought to the platoon.
I was with 3 Platoon, A Company at Minden PB in Musa Qalah on HERRICK 10/11. Hunty was 2 Platoon, and that distinction matters. I have not supplied a personal friendship or a specific memory of him, so I am not going to manufacture one. His loss still belongs to the A Company and Musa Qalah story I experienced from my own position in 3 Platoon.
Return to Log 042 — Helmand Province →
Return to Log 041 — Operation HERRICK →
Official remembrance record
Ministry of Defence — Private Richard Hunt →
Image note: The MOD portrait is marked “All rights reserved”, so I have not reproduced it here without permission.
