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Court stands in silent memory to soldier

Paul Britton
11/ 6/2008

THE harrowing final moments of a young soldier killed in Afghanistan have been revealed for the first time at an inquest into his death.

Guardsman Neil ‘Tony’ Downes, 20, from Droylsden, was killed by a landmine blast while on patrol in Helmand Province.

The inquest in Stockport is being held as his parents, Ronnie and Sheryl, mark the first anniversary of their son’s death this week. It also comes as the UK mourns the 100th soldier to die in the conflict since 2001.

Coroner John Pollard said the timing was "particularly poignant" – and the court stood in silence to remember the dead.

Recalling the blast on June 9 last year, Guardsman Downes’s colleague, Lance Corporal Edward Redgate, said: "I heard what I can best describe as a can of fizzy pop opening followed by a dull boom."

Warrant Officer Wayne Scully, who was travelling on the same vehicle, added: "I remember seeing greyness then being thrown forward. I landed on my front on the ground. Tony was a great soldier. He was exceptional in his intellect."

The inquest was told Guardsman Downes, who was serving with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards alongside Afghan National Army soldiers on a project to help widen and deepen irrigation ditches for locals, was blown 20m from his vehicle, which was upturned. He lost a leg and was pronounced dead at the scene, the inquest heard.

His mother Sheryl, who owns the King’s Head pub in Droylsden with Ronnie said: "I was extremely proud of my son and the way he served his country."

The inquest heard Guardsman Downes, who joined the Army at 17 after completing his GCSEs, had completed ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Iraq in 2006. He was on a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

The inquest was told he was a gunner on an armoured vehicle within a convoy of 10.

The convoy, which also included seven ANA vehicles, left a meeting with locals to investigate gunfire near Sangin. It is understood that Guardsman Downes’s vehicle passed over two landmines as it arrived into a small village, and exploded into a fireball. The convoy was then attacked by Taleban gunfire.

Sgt Bryan De-Vall, who was in a vehicle in front, said: "We were on high alert all the time."

He said it was unusually quiet.

He went on: "There was no normal pattern of life. As we usually moved through that area there was quite a lot of civilians. It made me switch on more.

"There was a large explosion. I thought it was a rocket -propelled grenade."

He told how he saw Guardsman Downes body lying face down in a ditch moments later. A fierce fire fight then followed.

He added: "It was probably all over in two minutes. I’m not sure whether they found the insurgents responsible but we definitely took prisoners that day."

Lance Corporal Redgate confirmed he saw Guardsman Downes wearing body armour and a helmet.

Warrant Officer Scully said two, 2ft square holes were later found in the ground near the vehicle, indicating mines.

He said: "I remember seeing the mangled vehicle, flames and smoke.

The inquest was told that Guardsman Downes’s body was then moved to lie beside a compound by an ANA captain. It was then flown to Sangin.

Hundreds of mourners attended the young soldier’s funeral last year.

Mr Pollard said he would be looking at whether the convoy had adequate electronic protection, adequate helmets and body armour and assessing the methods by which the Army ensured all the troops were using equipment properly.

Proceeding - conclusion will be here on www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk