TROY
Born: 3rd February 1988, Ipswich.
Died: 23rd August 2007; age: 19; Killed by American ‘friendly fire’ at Kajaki, Northern Helmamnd Province, Afghanistan.
Enlistment Date: March 2006.
Rank: Private.
Regiment: Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion, B Company.
Aaron is remembered on the Ipswich memorial and in 2015 a road and square were named after Gary Barnes and Aaron so their memory can live on.
The Mayor of Ipswich Cllr Glen Chisholm (2015) for the unveiling ceremony for Barnes Square and McClure Way with members of the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Anglian regiment with Aarons mother and Gary’s family.
The McClure family on the start of the new housing development with the Mayor of Ipswich Cllr Bill Quinton(2014-15).
VIKINGS DOWN
Today an announcement about our troops in Afghanistan
It is with profound sadness the Ministry of Defence said
That three men of the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment
In a fire fight north-west of Kajaki, these warriors lie dead
There was Private Aaron James McClure aged19 from Ipswich
Was in March 2007 to Helmand Province that he had come
He was serving as a rifleman in 7 Platoon B (Suffolk) Company
In Afghanistan Lorraine and Karl they had lost their loving son
Beside Aaron fell Private Robert Graham Foster also aged 19
A rifleman in 7 Platoon B (Suffolk) Company he also did serve
His sister Lauran about him says he was always a great brother
Roberts loving family, this heartbreak they did not deserve
Private John Thrumble aged 21 he came from Chelmsford
Was as a machine gunner in the same platoon he had come
He had joined the 1st Battalion of the Anglians in April 2004
His parents Pearl and Stephen now grieve for their loving son
They were part of a fighting patrol to disrupt Taliban activities
Two US F15 aircraft requested to support in the fire-fight came
The US aircraft dropped bombs to engage the enemy positions
Tragically one bomb killed our three, we know each their name
Pearl Thrumble wrote this for her son, it can apply to all three
“Our loving son the soldier, so very proud of you we all are
For you to be joined in the fight to set another world free
To all of us who love you, you will always be our shining star”
Such beautiful words from a fallen soldier’s loving mother
Was a terrible battle accident that took each your young son
Three brave Viking warriors now rest in the hall of Valhalla
Your nations prayers and thanks for what you each have done
Stuart Bailey. 02.03.2018