Stalybridge street named after soldier, 19, killed in Afghanistan

A ceremony was attended by Kingsman Dawson's father (R) and local leaders

A road has been named after a 19-year-old soldier who was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

Kingsman Sean Dawson, from Stalybridge, died in a gun exchange while on night patrol in Helmand Province in 2010.

The town's newly-opened Kingsman Sean Dawson Way was unveiled in a ceremony to honour the fallen soldier.

Councillor Jan Jackson said the community was "immensely proud of Sean" and the road name would "make sure his heroism would never be forgotten".

Kingsman Dawson was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and was five weeks into his first tour and on patrol in Helmand Province when fellow soldiers fired mistakenly on Afghan troops.

One of the wounded Afghans retaliated and shot Kingsman Dawson. A coroner later ruled his death was accidental and said he had been shot by members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) who thought they were under attack from the enemy.

His colleagues hailed him as "a true lion of England".

Kingsman Sean Dawson was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010

The ceremony was attended by Kingsman Dawson's father, Sean Dawson senior; the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Tafheen Sharif, and Councillor Gerald Cooney.

They were joined by Tameside Council's executive leader Jonathan Reynolds, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, and representatives of Sean's schools, Buckton Vale Primary and Copley Academy.

Members of Stalybridge Royal British Legion (RBL) also attended.

"Everyone in Stalybridge is immensely proud of Sean and we were determined to make sure his heroism would never be forgotten," Councillor Jackson, who represents Tameside Council's Stalybridge North, said.

"I am delighted we are able to honour his sacrifice in this way."

Councillor Vincent Ricci, Tameside Council's Armed Forces Covenant lead, said: "People sometimes think remembrance is only about the two world wars, but it includes many conflicts.

"Sean was one of five soldiers from the borough who died in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2010. His name, and theirs, are inscribed on the post-1945 war memorial in Ashton with many others."

He said the authority was committed to supporting armed forces members and signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012 and pledged to name new streets in the borough after local men and women who died in service.