Poppy Cross with three names.
WHISKEY 2010.
Corporal P049660N Stephen ‘Whiskey’ WALKER. 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, Afghanistan
Source for the following credited to
https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/corporal-stephen-walker-killed-in-afghanistan
Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, resided with his wife and daughter in Exmouth. Originally joined the Royal Navy on 19 May 1986, qualifying as a cook and serving at HMS Raleigh, HMS Cochrane and on-board HMS Cleopatra, transferred to the Royal Marines, entering Recruit Training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines on 12 March 1990, passing for duty on 7 November 1990. During his 20-year career he served across the broad spectrum of Royal Marine Units including; Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, 40 and 45 Commando Royal Marines and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines as a Recruit Troop Instructor.
On the morning of Friday 21 May 2010, Alpha Company was conducting a reassurance patrol, alongside the Afghanistan National Army, near Patrol Base ALMAS. At approximately 0850 hours local, north of the Patrol Base an explosion occurred. Tragically Cpl Walker was killed in action as a result of the blast. At rest in Kennoway Cemetery, Langside Avenue, Kennoway, Leven, Scotland, KY8 5LN
BIRCHY 2008
Corporal P057087H Marc John ‘Birchy’ BIRCH. 45 Commando, Royal Marines
killed by a suspected suicide bomber in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on 12 December 2008 aged 26. Reports suggested that a boy aged just 13 approached the marines pushing a wheelbarrow in which a bomb was hidden under papers.
At rest in Kinsthorpe Cemetery, Harborough Road North, Northampton.
TATE 2011.
Never forgotten
Lance Corporal P060068X Benjamin Alexander TATE, Royal Marines of North Hykeham near Lincoln, was riding a 1,000cc machine when he crashed at Pantperthog, Gwynedd. He died 29 June 2010 aged 30 after hitting a stationary vehicle and an oncoming car. Tate, on a motorcycle training course was going too fast for a bend, he went into the bend at a maximum speed of 65mph (105km/h) on the A487 an inquest heard.
Photograph credited to Pinterest
Poppy Cross was at the Royal Marine Association Memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on the 11 November 2018.