The body of a British paratrooper, killed while serving in Ukraine, has been repatriated to the UK. Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, died in what the Ministry of Defence described as a tragic accident last week.
A Final Message of Pride and Purpose
In a moving letter, written to be opened only in the event of his death, L/Cpl Hooley urged his family not to be broken by grief. The Parachute Regiment soldier wrote that he died "doing what I believed in as well as loved, with people I respected, and for reasons that matter to me, my country and democracy and freedom in this world."
He explicitly asked his loved ones: "Don't remember me with sadness and loss. Be proud. I went out doing what I trained to do, what I chose to do, and I had all of you in my heart the whole way." The letter was shared publicly at the request of his family.
Repatriation and Respect in Oxfordshire
L/Cpl Hooley's body was repatriated to RAF Brize Norton in West Oxfordshire on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. Following a private ceremony for his family, a cortege carried his body past the Carterton Repatriation Memorial Garden.
Members of the public lined the route to pay their respects, with some visibly emotional. Service personnel and police officers also turned out to honour the fallen soldier. Mourners gathered at the memorial garden, a community-designed space for honouring military personnel killed in service, where the Union flag was flown and a memorial bell tolled.
A Dedicated Soldier on a Covert Mission
Lance Corporal Hooley, who was due to be promoted to corporal in January, was killed while observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive weapon. A highly experienced soldier, he had previously been deployed on operations in Afghanistan, Africa, and eastern Europe.
Senior officers paid tribute to him, describing him as "the glue" and "the laughter within his team", noting his "deep kindness and genuine time for everyone". His death has brought to light the previously undisclosed presence of British paratroopers in Ukraine. The UK government has only acknowledged that a "small number" of military personnel are in the country, primarily providing diplomatic security and support to Ukrainian forces.
