Reg

It was a lovely day.

We'd been the garden centre,

had lunch there, bought some nuts for the birds.

It was all very, very British.

You love your kids so much you think you'd know.

No matter where they were in the world,

three thousand miles away even,

you'd know, you'd know if they were in danger.

[ Birds chirping, ringing continues ]

Alright. Here.

Nice cup of tea.

- Ooh, I love this. - Yeah.

Hello.

Oh, hi, June.

Yeah, Reg's mum's here.

We've been out for lunch.

Now? Thanks.

Six dead and eight injured, three of them critically.

Even at the height of the war in Iraq, British forces

did not suffer such heavy casualties in a single day.

- What is it? - Hello?

No, no, I've got-- we've got it on now.

Mr Reginald Keys?

One was wounded and two vehicles were destroyed...

I'm Major Potter and this is Captain Fletcher.

We're from Army Notification.

...details. In the other,

a patrol of paras came under fire

when a quick reaction force was sent in to mount

a helicopter rescue.

They too faced enemy fire.

We'll be getting reactions here in a minute, but first,

Clive Myrie is in Baghdad.

[ Television reporter speaking indistinctly ]

[ Indistinct shouting, gunshots ]

Come in.

At ease.

I've got some bad news, Sapper Keys.

Sir.

About your brother.

Sir.

He's been shot dead.

I'm sorry.

What do I do now, sir?

It's Richard.

Richard's here, Violet.

You on your own?

They've all been, son.

Been and gone.

- Well, come in. - No thanks.

- We're just getting off. - Oh, no, you're not.

You're not going all the way back there without a cup of tea.

Come in.

You're sure?

Yeah, go in.

Is Tom coming too?

My mum died six months ago, still thinking Tom was alive.

Sally later said how much she envied her that.

Thank you.

Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen,

we are going to do this in order of length of service.

Your name will be called and you will go in

and sit with your loved one for as long as you wish.

First please: the family of Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell.

The family of Corporal Paul Long.

The family of Lance Corporal Thomas Keys.

There's another couple in after us.

- I know. - Best not stay too long then.

They stay for ages; we walk out in five minutes

- how's that gonna look? - I don't care how it looks.

I need a wee.

Well, why didn't you go in there?

Because I didn't want them to say my name and not be there.

Really proud of you, son.

Reg.

There were 31 bullet wounds to my son's body.

I know because I counted them all myself.

Tell me it's all been a big mistake.

Come in.

You sure?

Did he suffer?

One shot.

It would've been instantaneous.

They're here.

I'm Major Bryn Parry-Jones, Mr Keys.

- Thanks for seeing us. - No problem.

This is Lance Corporal Joanne Richardson.

- How do you do? - And Corporal John Fraser.

Right.

I told my wife he didn't suffer.

Just one shot to the head.

Of course.

Please come in.

This is my wife Sally.

This is Major Bryn Parry-Jones.

- Hello. - And...

I'm sorry, I've forgotten already.

Corporal John Fraser.

Oh, hi.

Jo Richardson.

Jo?

Yes.

The Jo?

He mentioned me?

All the time.

The Jo, then, yes.

I was very proud of them.

It was a tremendous honour to have been

their commanding officer.

Good men, really good men, but even among men like that,

Tom was an exceptional soldier, Mr Keys,

and a lot of the time funny as well, funny and mischievous.

- You could say that, Corporal? - Yes, sir.

Which was great for morale.

Why was he told to stay out there?

It was the end of their stint, wasn't it?

Tom knew the ropes and we desperately needed

the likes of him to remain out there, for the handover

in order to help the new batch of lads coming out from the UK.

- You didn't stay then? - No.

But the C.O. who took over from me, Captain Phillips,

he was more than up to the job. Excellent soldier.

He was four days off his 21st birthday.

Right, I'll make some more tea I think.

Another coffee for you?

Thank you, Mrs Keys.

Jo, would you give me a hand in the kitchen?

Of course.

Do you know why they were attacked?

Well, we're still trying to get to the bottom of that.

All we know for sure is a heavily armed mob

assembled in the town...