| Location | Hove |
| Age | 25 years |
| Date of Birth | 6/1982 |
| Visitors | 4,006 since 07/02/2007 |
| Creator |
Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, 24, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
died as a result of injuries sustained by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack against his
patrol in the As Sarraji District of Basra City.
Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke was serving with Chindit Company, based at the Old State
Building in the centre of the city. He was commanding a patrol of Warrior Armoured Fighting
Vehicles, which were travelling to Basra Palace, the Headquarters of the Basra City South Battle
Group, when the incident happened.
Second Lieutenant Jonathan Carlos Bracho-Cooke
Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke was born on 13 June 1982. He lived in Hove and joined the
army at the age of 22. Engaged to Laura he was due to get married in August this year.
On 8 May 2005, Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke began his army career at the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst. On completion of his officer training and Infantry Platoon Commander's
Battle Courses he reported for duty with 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment,
serving on operations in Basra City, southern Iraq.
Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke had been in Iraq since the New Year and was always asking questions,
trying to improve how he did business and seeking the best solutions to problems. Diligent and eager
to learn, he was a very promising young officer who had a bright career ahead. He was excited about
being in Iraq and proud to be leading his Kingsmen, the soldiers serving under his command.
He demanded nothing but the very best from and for his Kingsmen. They in return respected him and
were extremely fond of him. They saw him as a caring and compassionate leader who despite having
only been in command for a relatively short time had made a huge impression on them. To a man they
feel privileged and honoured to have had him as their Platoon Commander.
Known as 'BC' to his friends, Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke's brother officers will
remember him as a cheerful and friendly person who always had time for those who needed it. They
particularly liked his ‘off the wall' sense of humour which manifested itself in various
ways, either by keeping them up late with his antics or by waking them up with the offer of a jaffa
cake.
He was devoted to his fiancée Laura and whilst others discussed buying new cars and going on
holidays on their return to the UK, he would talk passionately about wedding plans and spending
quality time with her. Hugely talented and extremely popular he will be remembered as a loving
fiancé, talented officer, comrade and friend.
Second Lieutenant Chris Ibbotson, who went through training and joined the Regiment with Second
Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, said:
"He was faultless; the nicest guy you could hope to meet. His sense of humour was key to who he
was. He was fit too and a better runner than most, no matter how many cigarettes he smoked."
From Mexico
For his family in Mexico, Jonathan was a very special person. Of course we know that he was an outstanding officer, but we also remind him as a very sensitive and warm cousin and nephew. And it is perfectly understandable: his parents and sister are wonderful too. The news about his death were terrible for us, because in spite of the long distance between Mexico and England, we always felt him very close to our hearts. He was an example for us in all aspects, but specially as human being, always well disposed and with a big smile on his face.
We want to say that most of all we feel very proud of Jonathan, and now that he is not between us, he will live in our hearts and will be a very encouraging inspiration.
Thanks for all Dear Jonathan!
I worked with and got to know Jon very well at Sainsburys in West Hove. We worked together in the Coffee Shop there and always had such a laugh. Their were a few of us lads at Sainsburys that worked in the coffee shop and we soon formed a group 'The Coffee Shop Boys' and we were constantly messing about and making a job which wasnt the best into a really enjoyable time.
I will always remember when he got his 1st car (Astra) , he was so proud of it and excited. I think he may of been a bit too excited though as he crashed it a few weeks/months later! But typically of Jon he didnt let it get him down.
He really was a terrific person and its so tragic to think that I'll never see him again so we can chat about 'old times'.
My heart goes out to his Family and Fiance in these difficult times. I shall miss you Jon, you will always have a place in my heart and I shall never forget you.
'Coffee Shop Boys forever'
Love Ken xx
I attended Cardinal Newman School and Sixth Form Centre with Jonny and of all the people i met through those years at school, no one stuck out like Jonny did. A great human being who always had time to listen, talk and just be there for his friends. Will never forget his caring, out-going and loveable personality who would light up even the darkest of rooms with his cheeky funny humour.
One memory of Jonny was on a lads holiday in Newquay at 3am outside a club trying to locate where he was, it didnt take long to find him... arms crossed, cigerette in mouth stood between two police officers posing for a photo, brilliant.
What a tragic loss, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, fiancée and friends.
Shocked
We were shocked when we heard the sad news. Our deepest condolenses to Jonathan's family whom we met on a couple of occasions in Sandhurst. We are thinking about you. What a lovely boy Jonathan was. You must be very proud parents.
I was John's team manager when he worked for LloydsTSB before he joined the army. He was a charming, highly principled young man and we had many chats about the danger of extremist Islam and how best to deal with it. His loss is tragic but i will always remember him for being such a thoroughly decent human being. All my love and best wishes to the family and his fiancee
I was John's team manager when he worked for LloydsTSB before he joined the army. He was a charming, highly principled young man and we had many chats about the danger of extremist Islam and how best to deal with it. His loss is tragic but i will always remember him for being such a thoroughly decent human being. All my love and best wishes to the family and his fiancee
I was in the Army for 6 years and besides knowing Jonny from primary school, secondary school and VI form college i knew that he served in the TA Royal Signals. I was with 216 Parachute Signals, when back home on a weekend, i bumped into him in a nightclub, and he told me that he was going to Sandhurst to be an Officer. Despite having not seen him for a number of years prior to this chance meeting, we got on tremendously and it is a night i have run over in my head since i heard about his passing. I have lost several friends from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but none of their deaths have affected me as much as Jonny's. I will always remember you Jonny and i pray for your family and fiancée. Hasta Siempre
I was in the Army for 6 years and besides knowing Jonny from primary school, secondary school and VI form college i knew that he served in the TA Royal Signals. I was with 216 Parachute Signals, when back home on a weekend, i bumped into him in a nightclub, and he told me that he was going to Sandhurst to be an Officer. Despite having not seen him for a number of years prior to this chance meeting, we got on tremendously and it is a night i have run over in my head since i heard about his passing. I have lost several friends from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but none of their deaths have affected me as much as Jonny's. I will always remember you Jonny and i pray for your family and fiancée. Hasta Siempre
I attended Cardinal Newman School with Johnny and became close friends through college whilst on the same course but sadly lost contact after we left. I will remember him as a good honest person who always had time for his friends and took his friendships very seriously. He was a natural talker, striking up conversations easily with the shyest of people and he was also an attentive listener. He had a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious laugh. He held a strong set of morals and would go out of his way to help people which is a credit to his parents who are two of the nicest and hospitable people I have ever had the privilege to have known. My thoughts are with his family, fiancée and friends.
I attended Cardinal Newman School with Johnny and became close friends through college whilst on the same course but sadly lost contact after we left.
I will remember him as a good honest person who always had time for his friends and took his friendships very seriously. He was a natural talker, striking up conversations easily with the shyest of people and he was also an attentive listener. He had a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious laugh. He held a strong set of morals and would go out of his way to help people which is a credit to his parents who are two of the nicest and hospitable people I have ever had the privilege to have known.
My thoughts are with his family, fiancée and friends.
I am a civilian working in Iraq and have been for almost 3 years. We only ever hear and see the bad in this country but they are the same as everywhere else. The good people outnumber the bad. we and they are paying for a wrong decision made some years ago. That is the true tragedy.
I am a civilian working in Iraq and have been for almost 3 years. We only ever hear and see the bad in this country but they are the same as everywhere else. The good people outnumber the bad. we and they are paying for a wrong decision made some years ago. That is the true tragedy.
I went to both Cottesmore St. Marys Primary School and Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School and Sixth-Form College at the same time as Jonathan. I'll always remember him as being cheerful, funny and friendly. In our Business Studies lessons, he'd always be smiling, laughing and cracking jokes. This always had the effect of cheering the rest of us up, no matter how hard the work. My most fondest memory of Jon is from our end-of-college Prom. He saw that I was sitting at a table most of the night and so he came over to talk to me, bought me a drink and even got me up dancing later on. I only wish I'd both taken photos of the evening and kept in touch with him after college. My sincerest condolences to his family. Your son will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.
I went to both Cottesmore St. Marys Primary School and Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School and Sixth-Form College at the same time as Jonathan. I'll always remember him as being cheerful, funny and friendly. In our Business Studies lessons, he'd always be smiling, laughing and cracking jokes. This always had the effect of cheering the rest of us up, no matter how hard the work. My most fondest memory of Jon is from our end-of-college Prom. He saw that I was sitting at a table most of the night and so he came over to talk to me, bought me a drink and even got me up dancing later on. I only wish I'd both taken photos of the evening and kept in touch with him after college.
My sincerest condolences to his family. Your son will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.
Jonathan doesn't have any gifts yet. Why not be the first to add one?
Click here to leave Jonathan a gift
All proceeds from gifts go to the upkeep of GoneTooSoon and help keep this site free.
Create an ever lasting memorial for your loved ones.
Start here »
Using the options below you can add this memorial to your personal garden.
| I am Jonathan's ... | |
| Add to Garden: | |
| Notifications: | Text Message |
There have been 72 candles lit for Jonathan.
