Mourners pay their respects as the coffins of Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, 40, Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37, Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18, from the Grenadier Guards, Corporal Steven Boote, 22, Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24, from the Royal Military Police, and Serjeant Phillip Scott, 30, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles pass through the village of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire during their repatriation _300
Phillip’s name recently joined a list of servicemen who died fighting for their country on the First World War memorial located at the top of the hill off Grange Old Road, West Kirby.
He was described by his commanding officer as “utterly selfless”, and left a wife Amy and one-year-old baby daughter Jessica.
Trooper Lawrence, who was on his second tour of Afghanistan when he died, was the eldest of five brothers; Christopher, 20, Liam, 19, Ryan, 13, and Louis, 11, who were raised in Upton by single-mum Gaynor.
“Phillip was like a dad to them,” she says. “He is a hero to them all. He loved Manchester United. He just loved being different and didn’t care what anyone thought even when the Everton and Liverpool fans gave him stick.
“He was a real joker and the class clown at school. He loved life and if there is any small shred of consolation for me it’s that he’d lived a lot for someone who was just 22.
“He was so happy about being a dad to Jessica and he was a brilliant dad who would have got even better. Now she won't have him bringing her up. It was her first birthday last week and it was difficult seeing her but knowing she’ll never have him there as she grows up.”
“I did not think he would be one of those who died.
“This was his second tour and I was completely calm about him going on it, unlike when he went the first time.
“At least he will always be remembered for his bravery”.
