Guardsman James Major

Jimmy Major was killed by a rogue member of the Afghan National Police on 3 Nov 2009 in what is termed a 'green on blue' attack. Jimmy was from Grimsby, aged 19 at the time of his death. Four other soldiers were killed with him, they were RSM Darren Chant, 40, Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37, both from the Grenadier Guards, and Corporal Webster-Smith, 24 and Corporal Steven Boote, 22, both Military Policemen. The men were off-duty and shot in cold blood by Afghan Policeman Gulbuddin Mohammed who was high on drugs and approached them carrying an automatic rifle. The incident took place at a checkpoint at Nad-e-Ali, Helmund Province. Jimmy was serving as a top cover gunner within the Commanding Officer's Tactical Group, which he had only recently joined. His 16 man team, made up of Grenadiers and Military Police, were mentoring a number of Afghan national police at the local check point. In a tribute to him, the Ministry Of Defence said that Guardsman Major had made "a strong impression with his character and sense of humour shining through" Jimmy had been recruited by Sergeant Matthew Telford - little knowing they would later die together.

Regimental details | Soldiers