Recent Grave

Not sure if this is the right place to post these photo's

I have been down at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery on family duty and have taken photo's for various people, whilst wandering round I came accross this grave which may interest the Airborne members

 

Sadly they do seem to be seen now on a all to regular basis. The last time I was at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery I notice two new graves for members of The Rifles that had only been laid to rest a day or so prior to my visit.

 

Full honours for popular young soldier


Paratrooper Mike Phillips from Harrogate

A BRAVE young paratrooper from Harrogate who was killed while on army leave is to be honoured with a full military funeral in the town today (Friday).
Pte Mike Phillips, 20, was killed in a quad biking accident on August 7 while holidaying with comrades in Crete.

A gunner with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (3 PARA), he had recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

His devastated family have this week paid tribute to a "brave soldier, who will never be forgotten."

His father, Steve Phillips, 43, said Mike was popular and outgoing, and always at the centre of everything.

"He was born to be a 'para'," he said. "It was like a big family to him, and he loved it.

"The proudest day of our lives was when we saw him put on his red beret, because he had earned the right to wear it.

"So brave"

"Everybody loved him – he was a fantastic soldier, so brave. I bet every para has got a story about how clumsy and forgetful he was, but when it came to battle they all said he was the first one in line. And it was all he ever wanted."

On leave from his base at Colchester, Mike had gone on holiday with 12 fellow paratroopers to Malia in Crete on August 4.

In the early hours of Friday August 7 he had pulled out of his hotel drive on a quad bike, and was hit head-on by a van travelling in the opposite directions. He was killed instantly.

His mum, Tammy, 42, said: "As soon as I knew the Army was at my door, I knew instantly that something had happened.

"We are absolutely devastated, our lives will never be the same again."

Popular and sporty Mike, his older sister Sarah, 23, and their younger brother Bobby, 16, all went to Woodfield Primary School and the former Granby High School. Along with best friend Lee Harle, whom he had known since they were seven years old, he would go to Bilton Youth Club, and played football for Harrogate Railway

SOURCE: Full honours for popular young soldier - Harrogate Today

 

England Phil
Thanks for filling in the details on this one really appreciated

 

Died on holiday quad biking.


Mike Phillips Online Memorial | GoneTooSoon.org

Tragic circumstances.

When you look through history, it is littered with armed forces personnel from all sides, some very prominent, that died in tragic accidents totally unrelated to hostile fire.

Regards
Tom

 

Oldman thanks for the post,it brought to mind this this thought.......... that in 50-60 years time a group of like minded people who may well be our granchildren or thier children will be on a forum not to unlike this but in search of the graves of another war maybe of graves like the one you have shown.

 

wtid45
Walking round the cemetery was an eyeopener the last time I was there was 2002, it is so universal in the diversity of people buried there.
In the war graves alone you go from 1914-1918 war through to Grave of Mike Phillips, with Russian, German, Newzealand, Canadian, Australian and British military graves.

There are also graves of postwar deaths, unfortunatly the H&SE have had their say and had several headstones laid flat thus making it difficult for the likes of us to find
what we are looking for.

In 50-60 years time they will probably key into the last computer concept and there in front of their eyes will be the info they require. My reasoning is that more cremations are being carried out now burial land is at a premium.

Your comment is very thought provoking and I thank you for it.