ordnance

A former explosive ordnance specialist who was awarded a Bronze Star during Operation Enduring Freedom, he had developed into a quiet but effective leader.

But he cautioned about the risk of some bombs or missiles going off target and hitting the ruins, even unintentionally: "If you drop enough ordnance, not all of that lands within 25 metres of the target."

He had gone out to help with construction work in their village when he stepped on some discarded ordnance.

Mr McCulloch works with humanitarian organisation Norwegian People's Aid and is currently working to clear unexploded ordnance in Iraq.

To do so, it has used bunker-buster missiles and heavy ordnance that has obliterated residential compounds and buildings.