Wootton Bassett pays silent tribute
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
18th December 2008
A LONE veteran mournfully waited for the return of lost comrades to their homeland. Seventy-nine-year-old Pat Bristow was among the first to lay eyes on the C17 strategic airlifter carrying the heavy load of five fallen servicemen into RAF Lyneham.

As always, hundreds of Wootton Bassett residents lined the town’s High Street waiting for the bell toll signalling the passage of the men killed in Afghanistan. They turned out to pay respects to Royal Marines Sergeant John Manuel, Corporal Marc Birch, Marine Damian Davies, Lance Corporal Steven Fellows and Lieutenant Aaron Lewis of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.

Three of the Royal Marines were killed by a suspected suicide bomber aged 13. Lt Aaron Lewis was killed by enemy fire while Lance Corporal Fellows died from injuries suffered after an explosion hit his vehicle.

Mr Bristow, of Oakhurst, who served as a quartermaster sergeant, said: “It is awful as they are all young men. I feel very emotional. All of the marines are very emotional today, in fact. It is so sad.” He served in the same unit as three of the fallen marines – 45 Commando.

Stunned silence greeted the arrival of the five Union Flag draped coffins to Wootton Bassett High Street. Two long lines of people waited for more than two hours to get one moment to pay their respects when the hearses paused at 2.45pm.

Anne Bevis, of the Royal British Legion in Wootton Bassett, said: “This is so sad at any time of the year but now it is even worse, as it is so close to Christmas. “One lost serviceman came through yesterday and now there are five today. It is overwhelming. Everyone is thinking of their families and feels deeply for them.

“People are coming from far and wide to the town to pay their respects.”

Steve Blundell – a member of the Royal British Legion Riders, said: “Everybody gets something out of coming here – whether it is to show our support or that we are patriotic to our country. I don’t come here out of a sense of duty. I do it because it is the right thing to do.”

An MoD spokeswoman said of the solemnity shown by the people of Wootton Bassett: “It’s not an official thing. Word just spreads and people turn out. It really is impressive.”

Ministry of Defence community police officer for RAF Lyneham, PC Jarra Brown, first started the repatriation ceremonies in March 2007 after being asked to escort the corteges to the motorway. He was overwhelmed at the crowds that gathered. He said: “The crowds are growing every time. In the past I have escorted the coffins all the way to Oxford, and the whole route is now lined, with about 500 people outside the John Radcliffe Hospital. The families of these servicemen and women take great comfort from the people of the town who pay their respects. In the 19 years I have been in the police, this is the job that chokes me every time. Its the most humbling policing job.”

Inquests into the deaths of the five men are expected to take place in Trowbridge next year.

The Government yesterday confirmed the death of the 134th British serviceman in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001. He was named last night as rifleman Stuart Nash from 1st Battalion The Rifles. Members of the Faringdon & District Branch of the Royal British Legion, together with Shrivenham Sub-Branch, also paid their respects to the five servicemen as their coffins made their way to Oxford. Together with three standard bearers, members of both Legions and members of the public gathered at The Folly Hill lay-by at Faringdon on the A420 as the coffins went past.