Private
C Company
3rd Battalion
The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
British Army
He deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), commanded by the Danish Battle Group.
Pte Bellingham was killed by small arms fire while on a security patrol partnered with Afghan National Army soldiers near Khar Nikar in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand province.
Aged 22, he was from Clayton near Stoke-on-Trent. He enlisted in October 2007, completed the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery, Driving and Maintenance Courses in quick succession, and soon became his Company's best Warrior Gunner. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan in April 2011, he undertook conversion training to operate Husky and Jackal vehicles. Also known as "Bell", he was respected as an extremely hardworking, mature and professional soldier. Good natured and a practical joker, he was instantly likeable and bonded quickly with his Afghan Army colleagues. He also loved to travel and was a supporter of Stoke City FC.
Pte Bellingham leaves behind his mother Suzanne Ashe, his father Leslie Bellingham, other family and friends. His parents said, "Gareth died doing the job he loved and we are all proud of the job he did. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and all those who knew him. Rest in peace."
Funeral with full military honours was held on July 8, 2011 at St George's Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
*Sincere thanks to Beth Painter for her generous sponsorship of this memorial.
*Thanks to Alf for the grave photo
C Company
3rd Battalion
The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
British Army
He deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), commanded by the Danish Battle Group.
Pte Bellingham was killed by small arms fire while on a security patrol partnered with Afghan National Army soldiers near Khar Nikar in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand province.
Aged 22, he was from Clayton near Stoke-on-Trent. He enlisted in October 2007, completed the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery, Driving and Maintenance Courses in quick succession, and soon became his Company's best Warrior Gunner. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan in April 2011, he undertook conversion training to operate Husky and Jackal vehicles. Also known as "Bell", he was respected as an extremely hardworking, mature and professional soldier. Good natured and a practical joker, he was instantly likeable and bonded quickly with his Afghan Army colleagues. He also loved to travel and was a supporter of Stoke City FC.
Pte Bellingham leaves behind his mother Suzanne Ashe, his father Leslie Bellingham, other family and friends. His parents said, "Gareth died doing the job he loved and we are all proud of the job he did. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and all those who knew him. Rest in peace."
Funeral with full military honours was held on July 8, 2011 at St George's Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
*Sincere thanks to Beth Painter for her generous sponsorship of this memorial.
*Thanks to Alf for the grave photo
Private
C Company
3rd Battalion
The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
British Army
He deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), commanded by the Danish Battle Group.
Pte Bellingham was killed by small arms fire while on a security patrol partnered with Afghan National Army soldiers near Khar Nikar in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand province.
Aged 22, he was from Clayton near Stoke-on-Trent. He enlisted in October 2007, completed the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery, Driving and Maintenance Courses in quick succession, and soon became his Company's best Warrior Gunner. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan in April 2011, he undertook conversion training to operate Husky and Jackal vehicles. Also known as "Bell", he was respected as an extremely hardworking, mature and professional soldier. Good natured and a practical joker, he was instantly likeable and bonded quickly with his Afghan Army colleagues. He also loved to travel and was a supporter of Stoke City FC.
Pte Bellingham leaves behind his mother Suzanne Ashe, his father Leslie Bellingham, other family and friends. His parents said, "Gareth died doing the job he loved and we are all proud of the job he did. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and all those who knew him. Rest in peace."
Funeral with full military honours was held on July 8, 2011 at St George's Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
*Sincere thanks to Beth Painter for her generous sponsorship of this memorial.
*Thanks to Alf for the grave photo
C Company
3rd Battalion
The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
British Army
He deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), commanded by the Danish Battle Group.
Pte Bellingham was killed by small arms fire while on a security patrol partnered with Afghan National Army soldiers near Khar Nikar in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand province.
Aged 22, he was from Clayton near Stoke-on-Trent. He enlisted in October 2007, completed the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery, Driving and Maintenance Courses in quick succession, and soon became his Company's best Warrior Gunner. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan in April 2011, he undertook conversion training to operate Husky and Jackal vehicles. Also known as "Bell", he was respected as an extremely hardworking, mature and professional soldier. Good natured and a practical joker, he was instantly likeable and bonded quickly with his Afghan Army colleagues. He also loved to travel and was a supporter of Stoke City FC.
Pte Bellingham leaves behind his mother Suzanne Ashe, his father Leslie Bellingham, other family and friends. His parents said, "Gareth died doing the job he loved and we are all proud of the job he did. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and all those who knew him. Rest in peace."
Funeral with full military honours was held on July 8, 2011 at St George's Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
*Sincere thanks to Beth Painter for her generous sponsorship of this memorial.
*Thanks to Alf for the grave photo
