FORMER BRITISH SOLDIER WITH TEDDINGTON LINKS DIES IN UKRAINE CONFLICT

A former British Army officer with family links to Teddington has died in Ukraine, it has been confirmed.

A recent inquest into the death of 34 year old Jake Waddington opened at Oxford Coroner’s Court where an address in Teddington was given.

Jake  was an officer cadet in the British Army and he died tragically on January 6 this year in the village of Mali Shcherbaky, Vasylivka District, Zaporizhzhia Region in Ukraine.

The court heard that Mr Waddington was killed while on combat operations in Ukraine.

No medical cause of death has not yet been provided but he was identified by his squadron leader at the John Radcliffe Hospital on February 7.

Coroner Nicholas Graham will set a date for a full inquest to take place on July 29 at 10am.

According to reports at the time of his death the former Durham University graduate and Lance Corporal in the  Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed by a Russian drone while fighting with Ukrainians.

He was said to have been gathering intelligence in the Donetsk region just yards away from a Russian trench. A second soldier survived the attack but remains in a critical condition.

An International Volunteer post on Facebook read: “Please help us Honor him so that He is Not Forgotten

“Our Beloved British Brother Jake Waddington, who had been serving in Ukraine as a Volunteer, succumbed on the Battlefield

“Honor, Glory and Gratitude to Our Brother.”

A post from a Ukrainian woman said: “THANK YOU for fighting for my country. We never forget…….”

And another from Roxanne Watts said: “Rest in Peace dear Jake. May you join your brothers in the hall of heroes. You were a well loved friend to many. My condolences to loved ones.”

A relative of the hero soldier did not wish to comment.