James / JB you was the greatest friend to me - i knew you and your family for many years until we lost contact when you moved. I have only discovered the news becasue i was trying to track you down on Facebook 27/07/09. my thoughts go out to your wife, your brothers and your Mum and Dad.It appears you grew up to be everything i knew you would be. I am proud of you mate -Thanks for the great memories.

England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Having known James Bateman though going to school with him over 13 years ago,
he was always full of smiles, never said a bad word about anybody and always made me laugh with his jokes.
May you rest in peace now.

I was deeply saddened to hear of James passing. I remember him as a youngster when I was good friends with his brother Graham, whom I went to school with. I remember him as a happy chap who was alway full of energy and life and the weekend in Salisbury spent at his Grandad's house firing catapults in the back garden! My deepest sympathy to his brothers Garaham and Richard and family. As an ex-regular soldier myself who has served in Iraq, I know the loss felt when you lose a comrade and a friend and I know you will be missed. Rest easy now James, and God bless.

May I offer my deepest condolences to all your family and friends. Gone but never forgotten - a true hero,who paid the ultimate price !!
I never knew you,but feel deeply for your family and friends,my brother is a Colour Sergeant in the Scots Guards with 16 yrs service and my partner was a Sgt and did 15 yrs service in the RE
- RIP xx

Jay you were a good friend, you had humour, and you were a great bloke, i've only known you about 5 years, but in that 5 years we became good friends. I was destroyed when i learnt that you had been killed, i was in Kahandahar when i found out, it will be a day i will never forget. Jay rest in peace mucker, save a space for me next to the big fella.

All The Best Phil

I am absolutely gutted to hear this very sad news. James was in my form class at Matthew arnold. I haven't seen him for 13years now, but what i can remember of him he was a fairly quiet, smiley and was always laughing about something or other. From tributes i have read wish i'd known him in recent years as sounds like a great lad. RIP James, will never forget you. Love and condolences to wife and family. XXX

I knew James from Spelthorne School. He was a lovely bubbly funny guy & always smiling, he will be sadly missed, my thoughts are with his family.

I was a close friend of your brother Rich through school and college and we saw each other from time to time when I popped round. You were a great guy, always smiling and full of energy. Sorely missed but never forgotten. Shalom. Alex Tame

I was at school with James at Matthew Arnold school in Staines and also a friend of his as young men. I will always remember him as a very smiley person and a real good laugh. He will not be forgotten. xx

James, I only met you a number of times through Emma and Mark but in that time I have shown great interest in your career and respect your beliefs and everything you have achieved in the Regiment. I have been deeply saddened by your passing and my heart goes out to Vikki and your Mum and Dad, Richard and Graham and to all your mates in the Regiment.
God Bless.

Nigel

Oh Jay, you were one of the craziest men i've ever met, i've never known anyone with so much energy and love to give. i will miss you always and never forget what a great mate you were to me, love always Sarah xx xx

I didn't know you much at all except for a few exchanged "hellos" in the street. We were really shocked when we saw your photo on the news today and just wanted to say that our thoughts go out to all of your family, especially Victoria.

Jay, we just want to thank you for being a truely excellant bloke. We will always remember you for being larger than life in what ever you did.
We can remember when we all moved in to our new homes together and spent many weekends cooking for each other.We still laugh about the time I told you that the bloke in the local shop owed me a fiver. We sent you down there thinking you would catch on but you never. The three of us were cracking up at ours as we could hear you arguing with the shop keeper over the phone. Classic mate. I will never forget how comitted you were to the reg, and how much it meant to you. We had so many laughs and memories mate, just wish I could have been a better friend.
Now go and stag on them pearly gates mate. xx Cheese and Clare.xx

My first memory of meeting you Jay was at a wedding that you and Vicky, Simon (Dodge) & I were attending. I will never forget how warm and welcoming you and Vicky were that day and how you both looked after me in this Para’s world that I was becoming accustomed to. I had heard much about you from Simon, the fun and exploits you and he had shared, but getting to know you I can only say that you were a true gentleman with a huge heart. We just so wish that we could wave a magic wand and change this awful outcome – you deserved so much more. Simon and I will miss you very much Jay but you will always be in our hearts and thoughts and never be forgotten – lots of love, Lisa x x

God Bless James and Rest in peace the job you did shows bravery and courage like no other, our thoughts are with your family left behind. They must be so proud of you .

My husband Graham and I didn't know you, but we know your brothers Graham and Rich... we went skiing with them. They are both lovely people and we know you were too. You died being brave in the line of duty. We are thinking of your family and friends at this time.
God bless you James.
Zoe and Graham X

Jay you were a great friend - Having known you since your first day in 2 para we spent alot of time together whether it be walking the streets of Ireland, being chased by baboons in Kenya or more serious times in Iraq. Jay would always do anything for anybody without thought for himself and always put others first. I could write all the things that everyone else in my position writes, but I want people to know that you were a real gentle giant who had a heart of gold and always made friends so easily. You were a real mate to me and have helped me throurgh some tough times in the past. Whether the situation be good or bad you always kept a great attitude towards life and made so many of us that were close to you happy. Now on your passing we all sit in silence, close our eyes and its never hard to find a great memory of you pal - we all really do miss you mate. We have shed many a tear for you as you really were a number one friend - goodbye my friend, you will never be forgotten. DODGE