News

The mother of a Folkestone teenage soldier who was the 250th member of the British armed forces to die in the Afghanistan conflict paid tribute to her "warrior and protector".
 

Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, of A Company 4 Rifles, was on his first tour of duty when he died in an explosion near Sangin, Helmand, on January 22 while on foot patrol.

His Union flag-draped coffin, topped with his forage cap, regimental belt, a flower wreath and a single white rose, was carried into Holy Trinity Church in Folkestone yesterday (11 February) by six of his regiment.

During the hour-long service a eulogy was made by his commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Jones, who said Peter was a "natural leader who had an irrepressible ability to laugh in the face of adversity.

"He was courageous, selfless and utterly loyal," he added.

A private committal was held at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery.