THE parents of a Golcar soldier killed in Afghanistan have spoken for the first time.
Karen and Russ Shaw talked of their pride in their son Graham yesterday, after receiving a special award from the Queen’s representative.
Speaking exclusively to the Examiner, the couple told how their son had wanted to be a soldier since he was a little boy.
Graham – who died in a roadside bomb in Helmand on February 1, just hours after his 27th birthday – spent his childhood years at an Army base in West Germany.
Russ Shaw, 50, served in the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards for 16 years and was stationed at Detmold base, near Hanover, when Graham was born.
Mr Shaw said: “He wanted to be a soldier like me. He wore combats from being two-years-old.”
Mrs Shaw, 50, added: “From being a young child, he wanted to be a soldier.
“It was just taken for granted that he was joining the Army.”
In 1992 Mr and Mrs Shaw moved back to England with their three children, Graham, Joanne and Steven. The family settled on Leymoor Road in Golcar.
Graham attended St John’s CE Junior and Infant School in Golcar and Colne Valley High School.
Mrs Shaw said: “He was good at maths and very into his sport.” Mr Shaw added: “He would have a go at any sport, but he loved rugby and football.
“He was a happy-go-lucky lad. He always had a smile on his face and nothing phased him.”
Graham became an Army cadet aged 14 and went to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate two years later. He joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment aged 17 and was originally based in Germany.
Graham trained as a sniper and did tours of duty in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
His sister Joanne Townend, 31, said: “He thought Iraq was boring. He wanted action – that’s why he wanted to go to Afghanistan.”
Graham stayed with his sister in Scapegoat Hill before heading out to Afghanistan just after Christmas.
Mrs Townend remembers her brother being typically fun-loving the night before he left.
She said: “We went to have a few beers at Scapegoat Hill Liberal Club. I’ve got pictures of him dancing and trying to pull this lass.
“I gave him a turkey and stuffing sandwich and he wobbled off down the road with a little grin on his face to get a lift back to Warminster.
“That was the last time I saw him.”
Graham arrived in Afghanistan on New Year’s Eve and regularly called his parents, who moved to a bungalow in the Bulgarian town of Kavarna four years ago.
His mother remembers their last conversation, two days before he was killed. She said: “We’re all great sun-worshippers so he was taking the mickey out of his dad, saying he was sunbathing in Afghanistan while it was snowing in Bulgaria.”
Mr Shaw added: “Parents are always concerned about their children no matter where they are, even if they’re just at the disco in town.”
On February 1, Lance-Cpl Shaw was killed by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol in Helmand. Cpl Liam Riley – his friend and fellow soldier in the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment – was also killed.
The Army broke the news to Graham’s sister.
Mrs Shaw said: “They went to see Joanne because she was the emergency contact. Joanne rang us while the Army personnel were still in the house. When she told me I felt numb. I was angry.”
Mr Shaw said: “It’s the initial shock that makes you angry.”
The couple returned to England straight away.
Mrs Shaw said: “We’ve had fantastic support, so many nice phone calls and texts from a whole range of people.
“The Army have been wonderful, they have taken so much pressure off us.”
On February 5 the family travelled to RAF Lyneham for the repatriation of their son’s body.
Mrs Shaw said: “It was the hardest day of my life. It was very, very emotional for everyone.”
Mr Shaw said: “We were glad he was home but, when you see the coffin coming off the Hercules, you realise what’s going on.”
After the repatriation, hearses carrying the bodies of Lance-Cpl Shaw and Cpl Riley were taken through the town of Wootton Bassett.
Mr Shaw thanked the people of the town for turning out to honour his son. He said: “There’s a lot of support from people down there, they are so respectful.”
Yesterday around 15 members of the family travelled to Bowcliffe Hall near Wetherby to receive the Elizabeth Cross. The award, which was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe, honours the bereaved families of soldiers killed in action.
Mrs Shaw said: “It’s nice to receive it though it’s not something you ever want to receive. It makes me proud but, of course, I’d rather have Graham.”
Lance-Cpl Shaw will be buried with full military honours at St John’s Church in Golcar on Monday.
Mrs Shaw said: “It’s going to be a sad day but we’re going to have a lot of friends and family round us. We’re very proud of Graham and we want the best for him.”
Mrs Shaw added that her thoughts were with the families of other soldiers killed and wounded in Afghanistan.
She said: “I’d like to give my condolences to the families of all the lads who have died. But it’s not just the fatalities, it’s the ones who have been injured. They never get mentioned and they are still to be honoured.”
