The first British woman soldier killed in Afghanistan Sarah Bryant has name added to national memorial

Jul 2 2009 by Gemma Jaleel, Ormskirk Advertiser

THE first British woman soldier killed in Afghanistan has had her name added to a national memorial at the weekend.

Sarah Bryant, whose father Des Feely used to run the Red Lion pub in Burscough, died when the vehicle she was in hit a land mine.

She had been out on duty in Helmand Province.

Sarah’s name – along with all the names of all the British soldiers killed last year – were added to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which honours those who have died serving their country since World War Two.

Des, who travelled down from his home in Cumbria, attended the ceremony which took place just three days after the first anniversary of his daughter’s death.

Accompanied by his older brother Paul who travelled from Wales, Des met with all the families of those killed with Sarah.

The service for all of the 66 killed during 2008 – 21 Navy & Royal Marines, three RAF and 42 Army men and women – was attended by dignitaries including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Des said: “It was a very moving and surreal ceremony. It was a strange sensation to see my daughter’s name on the stone.”

After several readings the names of the fallen were read out followed by a lone bugler who played the Last Post.

The hour long service ended with the National Anthem where upon relatives were invited to lay wreaths or a posy underneath the newly added names.

“At the moment, a date has still not been set for the inquest, so my grief is like an open wound and it’s kept raw because I haven’t had closure yet.”