Veterans' tribute to fallen comrade Sgt Gareth Thursby

Sgt Gareth Thursby, a married man with two children, from Skipton, was killed at an army checkpoint in Afghanistan in 2012, shortly before his 30th birthday.

Thousands of people attended his funeral at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, and in the following year, a stone was erected in his memory in the town’s Soroptimists Garden.

Sgt Thursby was held in exceptionally high esteem by those who served alongside him and they have always wanted a bench for the garden - it’s now been made out of cast iron with Gareth’s name etched on it.

The memorial bench (Image: Submitted)

Former colleague Robert Swindells said: “Many of us have been to Skipton to pay our respects at Gareth’s memorial stone but we really felt it needed a bench so people can spend more time there.

“The lads rallied round with some phenomenal fundraising which means the bench has been specially made in Scotland and is now ready to be taken to Skipton.”

The bench is currently stored in Halifax, the home of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment which became part of The Yorkshire Regiment in 2006.

But rather than take it in a car the 22 miles from Halifax to Skipton, the veterans have decided to carry it in honour of Gareth.

Sgt Gareth Thursby (Image: Submitted)

Robert, 39, said: “We really want to do this for Gareth. He was like a father figure to many of the younger lads and was a brilliant leader known as The Bull as he had such natural drive and determination.

"He cared so much for soldiers under his command and always put them first which is why he became known as ‘dad’ to members of his platoon.”

The team will set off from Halifax town centre around 9am on Saturday, September 16, and hope to reach Skipton eight hours later.

Gareth’s mum, Caroline Whitaker, said: “What they are doing for Gareth is wonderful – I think they are all amazing. I’m going to do the journey from Halifax to Skipton with them to support them every step of the way.

“After we lost Gareth we delayed his funeral for two months until the rest of the boys came back from Afghanistan as we knew how much he meant to them and they wanted to be there."

The bench carry will be virtually 11 years to the day since Gareth was killed alongside 18-year-old Pte Tom Wroe from Meltham in Huddersfield.

Both died when they were shot by a rogue Afghan policeman at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj of Helmand province on September 15, 2012.

Gareth was married to Louise with two children, Joshua and Ruby.