Soldier's son honours his father's memory after being killed on operations in Iraq
Staff Sergeant Chris Muir, an Ammunition Technician with the Royal Logistic Corps, was killed in action in March 2003 while conducting a mission to clear unexploded munitions near Basra to make the land safe for the local population.
Now his son Ben, who was only four when his father died, has opened a new £14m accommodation block at his father's old base, Defence Munitions (DM) Kineton in Warwickshire in his memory.
Ben was invited to cut the ribbon and officially open the Muir Building in honour of his father, watched by the late soldier's extended family and former colleagues.
Ben said: "It was a lovely surprise to hear that the building would be named after my dad, so that his example will continue to inspire Ammunition Technical Officers for years to come.
"It was a great pleasure to be here to officially open the new block."
Having joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1988 and qualified as an Ammunition Technician in 1989, SSgt Muir served with distinction during the Gulf War before amalgamating to the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
His expertise and professionalism led him to qualify at the highest levels of EOD and serve as an instructor at the Army School of Ammunition, Kineton before deploying to Iraq.
The Army said: "Naming the block after [SSgt Muir] serves as a lasting reminder to future generations of Ammunition Technicians of the courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty that he embodied throughout his career."
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Ralling, DM Kineton's head of establishment, said: "The Muir Building was named in honour of one of our colleagues who tragically died on operations so it was a great pleasure to be joined by his family to open the building.
"The new block will provide fantastic, sustainable accommodation to 46 personnel on site, as well as comfortable communal areas, cooking facilities and more – a fitting tribute to a much-loved colleague."
Richard Walsh, the DIO delivery manager for the project, said: "Reaching handover is a fantastic achievement and marks the culmination of a huge amount of work from everyone involved in the project.
"The Muir Building provides modern, high-quality accommodation that will significantly improve the lived experience of personnel based at DM Kineton for many years to come.
"By replacing older accommodation that had reached the end of its useful life, we have delivered a sustainable and cost-effective solution that meets the needs of today's Armed Forces while also supporting future generations of personnel."
The first soldiers will move into the new accommodation block in early September.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) led the project with the building constructed by Algeco on behalf of VIVO, one of DIO's built estate industry partners.
The accommodation was built using modern methods of construction, with units manufactured off-site before being transported to DM Kineton for assembly.
This modular approach reduced disruption across the site during the construction programme.
The building contains 46 ensuite bedrooms for officers and senior non-commissioned officers.
Two of the bedrooms are fully accessible, and the facility also includes kitchenettes, communal areas, laundry rooms, utility rooms and a cycle store.
The Muir Building incorporates a range of sustainable features designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Solar panels installed on the roof help generate power for the building, while air source heat pumps provide heating throughout the accommodation.
Recycled water from sink drainage systems is used for boot-washing stations, while additional trees have been planted as part of the landscaping works around the site.
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