Mum's 'last act of love' for son killed at war

Rifleman Will Aldridge joined the Army in December 2009

The mother of the youngest soldier to die in Afghanistan has described attending Remembrance Sunday services as the "last act of love" she can give her son.

Lucy Aldridge, from Bromyard in Herefordshire, lost her 18-year-old son Rifleman William Aldridge in a bomb blast in 2009.

"It's a very emotional day for me, despite the fact that it's 15 years ago now that I lost my son," Ms Aldridge said.

Ms Aldridge said she volunteered for the poppy appeal every year as a way to commemorate her son's life.

Rifleman Aldridge joined the Army in December 2007 and died 47 days after his 18th birthday.

He was one of five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles who died in the same incident after being caught in a series of explosions while on foot patrol in Helmand Province.

Despite being injured in the first explosion, Rifleman Aldridge continued to help his colleagues and assisted field medics before the second device exploded, killing him and three others.

Rifleman Aldridge died 47 days after his 18th birthday

Ms Aldridge described selling poppies and Royal British Legion merchandise as an opportunity to give back to an organisation that helped her through one of the toughest moments of her life.

"It's about doing something that still continues to give back, because the aftermath of that particular conflict will be felt for decades to come, through the servicemen who were injured, both mentally and physically.

"For the bereaved families, they all still need support, and the work of the poppy appeal to raise funds to be able to carry that work out is vital."

Her son's plaque in the town's St Peter's Church is somewhere that provides comfort and pride - Remembrance and Armistice Day are poignant holidays for her.

"I feel that it's the last act of love for my son that I can do for him. So each year I attend some form of service and lay across at his burial site.

"It's probably the most important time of year for me, and also the most difficult time of year for me," she said.