Royal Welsh fusilier, 21, dies from rare cancer

The death of a 21-year-old soldier from a rare cancer has been announced with "great sadness" by the 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh.

Fusilier Jack Wilkes, from Tywyn, Gwynedd, was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma and became too ill to complete his Lance Corporal training.

As a member of 5 Platoon, B (Rorke’s Drift) Company he was first posted to Tidworth Barracks in 2021 and then went on to participate in numerous overseas exercises including in Estonia in 2022.

His platoon commander said his admiration for Fuslilier Wilkes' wit, mischief and cheeky nature, which "made his life difficult", also made him hard to discipline.

He followed a great grandfather and a great great grandfather, who both served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

His grandfather spent 22 years in the Army Medical Corp while his father spent six years with the Royal Engineers.

"Fusilier Wilkes was a competent soldier within the field, confident, influential and intelligent," 1 Royal Welsh said in a statement.

"He very much thrived in this environment.

"An aggressive and hard infanteer, who would certainly be a soldier one would want in their platoon during a time of war."