21 Years again today - A beer. Looking forward to a beer or two. Or breaking the two-beer rule. A couple of days before my final recce, Matt and I spoke. Day one: Basra with the GOC. Day two: the Italian sector. The helicopter landed and I had a feeling. Nothing more than that. I called back to Basra anyway. The COS wasn’t happy. The GOC trusted me. My predecessor picked up on the second ring. “Phil — I’m sorry. I can’t say anything.” I pushed. “It’s Matt.” Major Matt Bacon. My old company 2IC. My mate. My friend. Blown in two on his way to see me. On day three I was in the hospital at Shaibah, talking to the young soldiers who had lost their legs in the same attack. When I arrived in theatre for the full tour, the first Division-supported operation was to catch Matt’s murderers. It rested on no new intelligence. The information that his patrol would be hit on that route at that time already existed before he set off. It was buried in a mountain of data. We Could Only see it with the 2020 hindsight of what had happened. I fell apart. No one noticed. No one cared. Matt was just another casualty. Matt — my friend — I’m sorry. The very processes you lived for failed you. We failed you.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ for all who died or were injured - we failed you all we will remember them ……..

As we mourn the passing of Her Majesty - we remember those who gave their all in her Service - this day - 2005 - Driving out of Basra for a meeting with me - Maj Matt Bacon gave his all - my old Company 2IC, my friend, my second day in Iraq - RIP Matt