A British soldier shot dead in Afghanistan during a gunfight with Taliban fighters was today named as Guardsman Simon Davison, from Cannock.Simon, aged 22, a former pupil at Cardinal Griffin High School, was killed after coming under attack while manning a checkpoint near the town of Garmsir in the Helmand Province yesterday.
It is thought he was killed when a force of between eight and 10 Taliban fighters opened fire on the checkpoint where he was manning a machine gun. He was fatally wounded in the battle.
His sister, Caroline Davison, today told the Express & Star that Simon died doing what he loved. She said: “My brother joined the army because it was all he wanted to do from being a boy. He was an amazing friend and loving person who loved life as much as he loved his job.”
Caroline, aged 28, of Oriel Close, Cannock, said: “As a family we are totally devastated but have never been so proud of Simon. He will never be forgotten.”
Simon’s funeral will take place on May 15 at 9.30am at St Mary’s Church in Cannock.
6 Comments
My deepest condolensces to Simons family.
The cream of our young crop are dying in far off lands and far too often. One soldier killed is too much to bear !!!!
If Gordon Brown could do one good thing for this nation when he becomes PM, it would be to pull our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan ASAP !!!
Is Iraq and Afghanistan really worth all this bloodshed ? The Russians fled the area eventually defeated in the 1980’s, as did the British army during the days of Gladstone in the C19th.
The defeat was not just from a human force, but from an enviromental enemy called the terraine !!!
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I can only echo Ian Paynes sentiments ……….. My Deepest Sympathy to this Brave Lads Family.
Bring these Troops Home …. The Campaigns in Iraq and Afganistan are Futile Folly and they should never have been sent in the first place…………………….
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To Simons family can i say how sorry i am for your tragic loss.
I’m sorry to see yet another young man with his life before him lose it in a senseless battle we are not going to win despite what Bliar and Bush claim.
Simon has gone to do a job which he loved with low standard equipment and probably having to pay for much of his own equipment.
I do hope Simons family’s loss will get Wright MP off the fence and get our young lads and girls out of Iraq and Afghanistan, as Ian Payne states look at the history of these areas going back hundreds of years, look at Vietnam, Korea, ten years of Russian invasion of Afghanistan, you can win a war if you know who you are fighting these young soldiers deserve better.
These politicians of all parties should bloody well be ashamed of themselves for doing sod all but sit on the fence. Angry isn’t the word for how i feel when i read of Simon’s death.
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Simon was a great man. Looked afetr his mates and lived for life R.I.P Si love and miss you loads xxx
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My condolensces to Simons family. It is time to consider if all of this continued loss is worth it, you only have to read “the severn pillars of wisdom” by T.E. Lawerence to under stand that there is never going to be a victory in these regions. He realised that the tribal system will never allow them to work together for the good of the region.
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My heart goes out to Simon’s family. I am so sorry you have lost your dear Simon.
My thoughts will be with you for a very long time. I too lost my husband in 1984 in NI he served with the Staffords, Stephen was also 22. I hope Simon won’t be forgotten like those who served in NI have been.
Kindest Regards
Jennie Anderson
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