Gifted soldier set to be remembered at service for the fallen

By [nbrown]

FALLEN servicemen – including a young and talented soldier killed three years ago – will be honoured at Remembrance Day services at Blandford Camp on Sunday.

Sergeant Peter Thorpe, who did his communications training at Blandford before joining 216 Parachute Signal Squadron in the 5th Airborne Brigade, died in Afghanistan in July, 2006, aged 27. A rocket-propelled grenade struck the regional headquarters in Sangin, Helmand Province, killing him and his colleague Lance Corporal Hashmi and injuring four others.

Part of the camp being developed as a training forward operating base for soldiers preparing for a tour of duty in the war-torn country is to be named after Sgt Thorpe and will be the location for the main service on Sunday.

It will follow a smaller ceremony at 10am at the Collingwood Memorial on the A357 Blandford to Salisbury road. Other ceremonies will also take place at the Canadian and American memorials on the camp.

The mother of Sgt Thorpe, of Barrow-in-Furness, has been invited to attend.

A the time of his death, his Commanding Officer Steve Vickery described him as a "highly motivated, talented and tremendously popular soldier". He added: "A gifted instructor, he had acquired a huge range of military skills and qualifications and was happiest when passing on this knowledge.

"He had recently been selected for promotion to sergeant and was keen to work in an Army Training Regiment. He undertook his role as a patrol commander with absolute professionalism in support of the 3 PARA Battlegroup in the demanding environment of Afghanistan."

Blandford's service of remembrance starts at 2.30pm in the Market Place, with a parade of uniformed groups led by the Royal British Legion and military representatives from the Legion headquarters in Church Lane to the Market Place for the Act of Remembrance, followed by a service in Blandford Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul.

The service will include readings, poems and prayers. Music will be provided by the Stour Valley Band. As part of the growing links between the parish and the Garrison Chapel, Rev David Barrett, Chaplain to Blandford Camp, will be the preacher.

The Rector of Blandford Forum, Rev Tim Storey, said: "Remembrance Day Service this year comes amid heightened questions about the role of our armed forces in the world, but it is important that we focus on the suffering and sacrifice of so many and to pray for those who mourn them and care for the injured."

In Sturminster Newton, uniformed groups will be mustering at 9.45am at the RBL headquarters in Bath Road to parade to the parish church of St Mary for the Remembrance service. There will also be an Act of Remembrance at 11am on Wednesday November 11 at the church war memorial.

At Stalbridge there will be a procession starting at 10.30am from Station Road car park to the church for the service and silence at 11am, and after reading the roll of honour from Stalbridge, King Stag and Stock Gaylard, the parade will return to the RBL club for refreshments.

Village services include those at Milborne St Andrew starting 10am followed by a procession to the Memorial Stone for 11am, at Tarrant Rushton and Tarrant Gunville at 10.30am, at Hazelbury Bryan and Shillingstone where morning service at 10am is followed by a parade to the war memorial at 10.50am, at Durweston starting 10.30am, at Tarrnat Monkton war memorial at 10.50am, and at Stourpaine at 6.30pm.

A presentation will be taking place at the Portman Hall in Shillingstone on Wednesday of 'Welcome Home' plaques made for soldiers returning from World War II to one survivor and the next of kin of 10 others.