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Cpl Cpl Darryl Gardiner

Cpl Darryl Gardiner, 25, was an Armourer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and was working with the surveillance team from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, (BRF), outside the recently retaken town of Musa Qala, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, on Sunday the 24 January 2008, when his lightly armoured Pinzgauer vehicle ran over a mine.
His family said in a statement that they were "Deeply proud. Darryl served his country.".
Major Tony Phillips, the Commander of the BRF, said; "We have lost a good friend, a courageous soldier and a remarkably skilled tradesman, but we are only too aware that his family has lost so much more."
Cpl Gardiner, who had been deployed in Afghanistan since October, was a keen skydiver and member of the Army Parachute Association. He leaves a girlfriend, Lucy.
Corporal Darryl Gardiner, who died on active service in Afghanistan on 20 January, 2008, was an Army engineer with a passion for skydiving and determined nature when it came to his work.
Hundreds of comrades, friends and relatives gathered for his funeral on 5 February, 2008.
Lt Col Andy Teskey, Cpl Gardiner’s former commanding officer, told the congregation: "This has been tragic end to a promising life of a bright 25-year-old It is clear that the numbers here today are Darryl’s legacy. Darryl will live on."
Darryl Gardiner was born on 25 January, 1982, in Germany and was raised in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Known to his friends as ‘Daz’, he began competing for the Army skydiving team in 2001, becoming one of their leading parachutists.
He served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and had been attached to the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in Afghanistan since October 2007 as an armourer, providing essential support to the Yorkshire Regiment Brigade Reconnaissance Force.
During his time in country he was responsible for maintaining armoured vehicles in difficult conditions and shortly after his arrival he had gained fame for helping thwart a suicide bomber in Gereshk.
Major Tony Phillips, of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, paid tribute to him, saying: "Corporal ‘Daz’ Gardiner was an exceptional young man who the Brigade Recce Force will miss so much. His death has been a bitter blow to us all. Corporal Gardiner had spent three months living and operating in the harshest of environments, yet despite such constant adversity he always soldiered on in the most pleasant and good natured manner. Corporal Gardiner was good to be around. He was a gentleman. We will all cherish the time we had with him."
Captain James Ashworth said: "Professionally we have lost a bright and talented soldier who was first class at his job, a man who prided himself on getting things done and who took great pleasure in his work. On a personal level we have lost far more. He showed a rare sensitivity and compassion for others and his warmth of character has been of comfort to many."
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Smith, former chairman of the REME parachuting team, said: "He was looking forward to his return to UK where he was to instruct on an adventurous training expedition, taking soldiers off to California to teach them to skydive. With his helpful and friendly nature he was always able to put his students at ease and encourage them to make their first jump."
Cpl Gardiner’s family released a short statement that said they were "deeply proud" of him for serving his country. He also left behind a girlfriend, Lucy.
Colin Butler, senior chaplain of 143 Brigade, and Revd David Creaser, unit chaplain, led the funeral service at St Mary’s Church in Stafford.
The Reverend Colin Butler said: "We are here to commend to God someone who was a partner to Lucy (his girlfriend), a son, a brother, a grandson and an uncle." He went on: "Darryl lost his life serving his country.
"In seeking to help others he has paid what we euphemistically call the highest price. We have thankfulness and pride for Darryl."
Lt Col Teskey described Cpl Gardiner as a "very capable soldier".
He said: "He always thought of others. He was selfless and others always came first."
Known to his friends as "Daz", Cpl Gardiner was a keen skydiver and many in the congregation wore parachuting suits in acknowledgement of his passion for the sport.
Warrant Officer 2 Mark Bayada of the Army Physical Training Corps told mourners: "Skydiving breaks down all the barriers. You are just a person and Daz was an exceptional person. It brought out all of his character – confidence in abundance, natural ability. If someone was in a bad mood, he said, "Daz would bounce all over you, wouldn’t acknowledge that you were in a bad mood."
He added: "It was certainly a lot better when he was about than when he wasn’t."
The congregation heard that Cpl Gardiner had "moved around a great deal" but planned to settle down after serving in Afghanistan, and hoped to join the Physical Training Corps or the RAF to pursue his love of parachuting.
A volley of shots was fired outside the church and The Last Post was sounded.