A FORMER Malvern College pupil is mourning a fellow Royal Marine officer who was killed in a helicopter crash south of the Kuwait border.

Maj Nick Cunningham, who is peacekeeping in Sierra Leone, said he was devastated to hear his friend and former colleague Maj Jason Ward had been one of the eight marines aboard the US Sea Knight on Wednesday, March 21.

He described the 34-year-old, who served alongside him at 45 Commando in Arbroath, Scotland, for two years, was a "vivacious high-flyer who would be sorely missed".

"I was shocked and stunned to see his name on the MoD website and felt terrible," he said. "He was a good friend and an extremely talented officer who was energetic, intelligent and loved to laugh.

"He was also very humble and self-effacing, and I believe he would definitely have made it to the top."

Maj Cunningham, whose mother lives in Malvern, said it was terrifying to think any one of his 30 close friends out in the Gulf could still be killed or badly hurt.

"My friend Cptn Jeremy Waite was injured in an ambush and with the war entering a critical phase, you don't know what's going to happen," he said.

"But, no doubt the boys will get through this with their great sense of humour, and although the tragedies will be affecting them deeply, it will make them even more determined to do the job and get home alive.

"They know the reality but they've already made the decision by joining and accept it."

Maj Cunningham, a military observer in the West African town Magburaka - which has been ravaged by 10 years of civil war - maintained the troops would have been thrilled to get the chance to put their training into practice and it was very frustrating not to be involved.

"It's frustrating not to be involved and I wish I was there," the 32-year-old said.

"You have to understand it's like training to be a fireman without ever putting out a fire.

"We are all human and war is never a good thing, but we are driven by the sense of excitement, challenge and adventure."

"I think the troops would be saddened to know the true extent of the anti-war feeling but they are realistic and want to believe they are doing the right thing," he said.

"Ultimately, I think it will bring fortune to the Iraqi people, who have been subjected to incredible poverty by Saddam for years."