Friday, May 10, 2013

A red rose and a kiss from soldier's pregnant widow: Mourning wife says goodbye to husband killed in Afghanistan

The pregnant wife of a soldier killed in Afghanistan kissed the hearse carrying his body as he returned home.
Corporal William Savage, 30, had been expecting his first child with Lydnsey, 27. Yesterday she cradled her bump and clutched a red rose for the man known as Sav who she described as ‘the love of her life’.
Cpl Savage died alongside Fusilier Samuel Flint, 21, and Private Robert Hetherington, 25, when their Mastiff armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on a patrol in Helmand Province last Tuesday.
Lyndsey Savage is comforted as a funeral cortege carrying her husband, William, passes during a repatriation ceremony for three soldiers, outside Brize Norton near Oxford
Lyndsey Savage is comforted as a funeral cortege carrying her husband, William, passes during a repatriation ceremony for three soldiers, outside Brize Norton near Oxford

The grieving wife and relatives mourn as the funeral cortege of Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint drives past. Mrs Savage's husband was killed when an IED exploded in the Helmand province
The grieving wife and relatives mourn as the funeral cortege of Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint drives past. Mrs Savage's husband was killed when an IED exploded in the Helmand province
Lyndsey Savage tenderly kissed the window of a hearse carrying the body of her husband William
Lyndsey Savage tenderly kissed the window of a hearse carrying the body of her husband William
Their bodies touched down at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday. Relatives placed dozens of red, white and blue flowers on the vehicles making up the cortage.

Last week’s explosion, which also injured six others, was the first case of British troops dying in a Mastiff since the vehicle was sent to the warzone six years ago.

Cpl Savage and Fusilier Flint were both from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland, while Pte Hetherington was a reservist with the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland.

Cpl Savage, from Irvine, Scotland, joined the Army in April 2003, and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Corporal William Thomas Savage, of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan on April 30
Corporal William Thomas Savage, of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan on April 30
Last week his wife said: ‘I am completely devastated, but extremely proud of Sav and everything that he has achieved. He loved being a soldier.’
Fusilier Flint, a motocross enthusiast from Blackpool, joined the Army in November 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan in March.
Pte Hetherington was born in the US but raised and educated in Scotland. Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, commanding officer of The Royal Highland Fusiliers, said he epitomised ‘everything that is excellent about the reserve forces’.
The Mastiff attack took the UK’s death toll from Afghanistan to 444 since operations began in 2001.
It was the first case of British troops dying in a Mastiff since it was sent to the warzone in 2007.
A sombre cortege carrying the Union Flag-draped coffins containing Cpl Savage, from Irvine, Scotland, and Fusilier Flint, from Blackpool, left the RAF base shortly after 1.30pm.
Pte Hetherington’s family had requested a private repatriation so his body did not join the cortege.
As they came to a halt at the memorial garden in neighbouring Carterton, relatives of the tragic comrades placed dozens of red, white and blue flowers on top of the vehicles and comforted each other.
A party of Royal British Legion standard bearers also paid tribute to the soldiers’ sacrifice, lowering their standards as the hearses passed.
Around 200 people gathered to pay their respects. The cortege was applauded as it left the memorial garden.
Cpl Savage, who joined the Army in April 2003, had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan previously.
The Mastiff attack took the UK¿s death toll from Afghanistan to 444 since operations began in 2001
The Mastiff attack took the UK¿s death toll from Afghanistan to 444 since operations began in 2001

Corporal William Thomas Savage 2 Scots, Fusilier Samuel Flint 2 Scots and Private Robert Murray Hetherington, 7 Scots were killed during a patrol
Corporal William Thomas Savage 2 Scots, Fusilier Samuel Flint 2 Scots and Private Robert Murray Hetherington, 7 Scots were killed during a patrol when their Mastiff armoured vehicle was hit by an IED buried in a road in Helmand
In a eulogy last week Lyndsey said: ‘I am completely devastated by this news, but extremely proud of ‘Sav’ and everything that he has achieved. He loved being a soldier.’
Fusilier Flint, from Blackpool, joined the army in November 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan in March.
The motorsports enthusiast and avid Manchester City fan was described as the ‘life and soul of the party’ by his family.
Pte Hetherington was born in the US but raised and educated in Scotland.
Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, Commanding Officer, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, described him as epitomising ‘everything that is excellent about the reserve forces’.
The deaths take the number of UK service personnel who have lost their lives since operations began in 2001 in Afghanistan to 444.
DAILYMAIL

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