At just 18, Rifleman William Aldridge is the youngest British soldier to have been killed so far in Afghanistan. He was killed by a Taliban bomb on 10th July.
Before his death, he took many photos on his camera whilst in Afghanistan, photos he took of himself and some of his comrades, some of whom were also killed in the same attack. He also took photos of family members whilst at home.
After his death, his mother, Lucy, wanted his camera more than any other of his personal possessions.
On the camera's memory card, Lucy found more than 300 photos which were taken just weeks before his death, each one of which she will treasure forever.
The wider view: The last pictures taken by the youngest British soldier to die in Afghanistan
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
20th September 2009
Daily Mail
Soon after Rifleman William Aldridge became the youngest British soldier to die in Afghanistan, his mother told the Army that the only one of his personal belongings she really cared about was his camera.
‘I knew he was a keen photographer and that something of him might have survived,’ said Lucy Aldridge.
At first, she was told it had been lost.
Then, without explanation, it turned up a week later ‘pretty smashed up’.
The camera had been in 18-year-old William’s pocket when he was killed by a Taliban bomb near Sangin in Helmand on July 10.
He and his comrades had rushed to the aid of soldiers injured by one device, when a second was detonated.
Miraculously, the memory card was unscathed.
‘I wanted to see every piece of his life,’ said Mrs Aldridge, of Bromyard, Herefordshire. ‘It seemed as though he was sharing it with me.’
She found more than 300 photographs, each one now holding its own poignancy.
‘I noticed a huge contrast in his appearance from photos in one of the big bases and later when he was on patrol,’ said Mrs Aldridge, 41, who has two other sons, George, six, and Archie, four.
‘In the later picture you can see the weariness etched on his face. These boys dealt with death every day.’
She says the images have given her much comfort. ‘William was my son and best friend. He became this wonderful, lovable human being who was always ready to help others.’
She released the pictures for the launch of her charity Afghan Heroes, which she set up with the six other women who lost sons on July 9 and 10.
The charity aims to support the families of the fallen as well as those serving on the front line. To donate, visit www.afghanheroes.org.uk.
dailymail.co.uk
Before his death, he took many photos on his camera whilst in Afghanistan, photos he took of himself and some of his comrades, some of whom were also killed in the same attack. He also took photos of family members whilst at home.
After his death, his mother, Lucy, wanted his camera more than any other of his personal possessions.
On the camera's memory card, Lucy found more than 300 photos which were taken just weeks before his death, each one of which she will treasure forever.
The wider view: The last pictures taken by the youngest British soldier to die in Afghanistan
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
20th September 2009
Daily Mail
Soon after Rifleman William Aldridge became the youngest British soldier to die in Afghanistan, his mother told the Army that the only one of his personal belongings she really cared about was his camera.
‘I knew he was a keen photographer and that something of him might have survived,’ said Lucy Aldridge.
At first, she was told it had been lost.
Then, without explanation, it turned up a week later ‘pretty smashed up’.
The camera had been in 18-year-old William’s pocket when he was killed by a Taliban bomb near Sangin in Helmand on July 10.
He and his comrades had rushed to the aid of soldiers injured by one device, when a second was detonated.
Miraculously, the memory card was unscathed.
‘I wanted to see every piece of his life,’ said Mrs Aldridge, of Bromyard, Herefordshire. ‘It seemed as though he was sharing it with me.’
She found more than 300 photographs, each one now holding its own poignancy.
‘I noticed a huge contrast in his appearance from photos in one of the big bases and later when he was on patrol,’ said Mrs Aldridge, 41, who has two other sons, George, six, and Archie, four.
‘In the later picture you can see the weariness etched on his face. These boys dealt with death every day.’
She says the images have given her much comfort. ‘William was my son and best friend. He became this wonderful, lovable human being who was always ready to help others.’
She released the pictures for the launch of her charity Afghan Heroes, which she set up with the six other women who lost sons on July 9 and 10.
The charity aims to support the families of the fallen as well as those serving on the front line. To donate, visit www.afghanheroes.org.uk.
dailymail.co.uk
