NAVY NEWS, JULY 2010
of 40 Commando in Afghanistan.
Fathers. Sons. Brothers. Royals. I
T HAS been a bitter month of sacrifi ce for the Royal Marines
Insurgents have claimed the
lives of six green berets – all but one killed by bomb blasts. Cpl Stephen Walker was killed in an explosion near Patrol Base Almas in Sangin while he was on a foot patrol with Afghan troops.
Originally from Lisburn in
Northern Ireland, Cpl Walker joined the RN as a cook in 1986 before transferring to the Corps in 1990.
The father-of-two had served in most branches of the Royal Marines in a career spanning two decades and was regarded as an expert in mortars and jungle warfare.
He was – in the words of 40
Cdo’s CO Lt Col Paul James – “my most experienced and probably my best corporal. I valued his counsel greatly and despite being his commanding offi cer, he taught me tactics.” As for the ordinary ranks, they use words like ‘legend’, ‘father figure’, ‘charismatic’, ‘life and soul of the party’.
“Never has a kinder man walked the planet,” said Cpl Ash Morris, 1 Troop, Alpha Company.
“All that mattered to him were the things closest to his heart; his family and his loyal section of Marines.” Cpl Darren Davis of 3 Troop added: “Whisky Walker was such a huge character in the troop; words cannot do him justice. He oozed every quality that a bootneck should have - the complete package.” An explosion also claimed the
life of Cpl Stephen Curley. The 26-year-old section commander – and father of
● Band of brothers... (l-r) Cpl Stephen Walker – ‘the complete package’; Cpl Stephen Curley – ‘an oracle and best friend’; Mne Anthony Hotine – ‘always giving that little extra’; Mne Scott Taylor – ‘positive attitude’; Mne Steven Birdsall – ‘second-to-none’; Mne Richard Hollington – ‘pure gold’
a five-month-old son – had distinguished himself in Iraq and on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He headed to Helmand with 40 this spring as a specialist in urban combat.
“A man of few but powerful
words when it mattered, he lived by the motto ‘If you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much room’. This will be forever imprinted on our hearts,” said his widow Kirianne. His comrades say 40 Commando is much the poorer for the loss of an outstanding role model and, above all, their ‘closest brother’. “Words cannot explain the immeasurable impact that Steve Curley has had, not just on the troop, but the whole of Charlie Company; he is irreplaceable,” said Sgt Danny ‘Smudger’ Smith, troop sergeant 7 Troop. “The men idolised him, he was their oracle and best friend. I have never met another man with such an amazing sense of humour; every bad situation could be made into a hilarious joke which of course meant he had a natural ability to pick the lads up when the chips were down.”
Mne Scott Taylor was another victim of an improvised explosive device which detonated while on patrol around Sangin. The 21-year-old from Buxton followed his brother Liam into the Corps and, after taking part in last year’s Taurus deployment to the Far East, headed to Patrol Base Jamil with Alpha Company comrades. “Scott Taylor was everything I needed in a bootneck,” said Lt Col James. “Proud but not arrogant, loyal but still independent, courageous but not foolhardy, he was an outstanding marine.” That’s an opinion echoed by his fellow Royals in the patrol base.
“If I could have had 30 guys like Scotty in the troop then I would have been a very happy man,” said Sgt Danny Pea, commander of Patrol Base Jamil.
“Scotty was what we describe in the Corps as the ‘Grey Man’: the job was always done without hesitation and he would not normally stand out from the crowd, but this was the way he liked it, and I would not have wanted it any other way.” Mne Pete Carver added:
“Scotty was a true friend and one that no-one can replace. I even thought of him as a brother.” Mne Anthony ‘Tino’ Hotine, aged 21, from Warminster was killed by a bomb blast while on a security patrol with Afghan soldiers around Patrol Base Jamil.
Mne Hotine joined the Corps in 2007 and had already served on one operational tour in Sangin. He returned to Helmand as a specialist signaller, having qualified third on his course. Colleagues describe him as quiet, cool and dedicated. “He was always willing to give that little extra of himself, no matter what the price,” said Maj Sean Brady, Offi cer Commanding Alpha Company. “The concept of ‘marching to the sound of the drums’ may seem anachronistic in today’s world; however it perfectly describes Tino’s attitude to his job and to his life.”
Sgt Pea added: “Tino was a keen soldier who always wanted to impress. His maturity was that of a 30-year-old man. Without doubt, Tino would have gone far in the Corps.”
Mne Steven Birdsall – known by friends as Birdy – was
fatally wounded by a gunshot after coming under fi r
e from
insurgents while patrolling north of Sangin.
The 20-year-old from
Warrington was a qualified HGV driver who took part in last year’s Taurus deployment. He served with Bravo Coy as a light machine-gunner and was helping Royal Engineers running a check point in Sangin when he was wounded. Mne Birdsall was flown back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but succumbed to his wounds the following day. “Stevie brought enormous courage, humour and emotional support to his section; he laughed, larked and listened within the patrol base and was a centre of gravity for morale,” said Maj Mark Totten, Offi cer Commanding Bravo Company. Mne Olly Spence 11 Troop, Bravo Company, added: “Birdy was strong, full of heart and always worked hard for the team. As a light machine- gunner, his drills on the gun were as slick as his wet hair after a morning shower. As a mate he was second-to-none, he had an unparalleled sense of humour on, as well as off the job.”
Former semi-professional footballer Mne Richard ‘Dickie’ Hollington, from Petersfi e
ld,
succumbed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to wounds suffered in a bomb blast while on patrol near Patrol Base Ezeray eight days earlier. The 23-year-old passed out of
Lympstone in September 2008 and joined 40 Cdo three months later, serving with the unit on the Taurus exercises in the Far East.
“He chose to live his days as a lion and to us he was the biggest, if softest, lion in the pride – how proud of him we all are. It was typical of Richard, and a crumb of comfort to us, that even in death he donated his organs to help others in accordance with his wishes,” said his family. Maj Totten added: “With an
irrepressible sense of fun and lust for life, Dickie was always at the seat of laughter and his passing has left a tremendous void amongst his companions in Bravo Company. “He revelled in troop banter and constantly buoyed those around him with his sharp wit and love of friendly debate. Men like Dickie are pure gold in a Patrol Base here in Afghanistan.”
7
“It’s the bad memories that stop you from living properly. When I went to sleep at night it was like I was drowning and it’s because of that you are scared to go to bed. If it wasn’t for SSAFA I would have ended up on the streets.”
More than 25 years after serving in the Falklands War, Clinton, 49, is still carrying the mental scars.When SSAFA Forces Help met him he was unable to sleep for the nightmares caused by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and his debts had spiralled out of control.
WWW.SSAFA.ORG.UK 020 7403 8783
Registered Charity No. 210760 Est. 1885, Registered Charity (Scotland) No. SC038056
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