Final journey of a ‘shining star’

Corporal Joey Etchells in mess uniform

Mossley soldier Joey Etchells will begin his final journey home on Tuesday when his body is flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

His Union Jack-draped coffin will be one of several repatriated to the UK after a bloody month in Afghanistan which claimed 18 young lives.

There have been 187 deaths of British troops since the war began in 2001.

Residents of Wootton Bassett, the nearest town to RAF Lyneham, will stand in silence and shops will close as a mark of respect as the cortege of hearses passes through.

Cpl Etchells’ family will be able to choose to have a funeral with full military honours, or a private one.

Emotional tributes have been paid on Facebook, the social networking site, to the 22-year-old former Mossley Hollins High School pupil, who was described as a rising star in the Army.

His distraught fiancee, Julie Davies, mother of their baby daughter, Kyra, said: “You’re my shining star looking down on us all. Make sure you stay with us, baby — you’re never ever going to be forgotten.

“I’m trying to work out in my head that you have gone. I’m trying to stay as strong as I can for everyone.

“I’m going to see you on Tuesday and I will be there waiting for you with your mum and dad, and Daz and Jen and Ryan, and everyone else. I love you so much and I only wish I had told you every day.

“I hope you can see how many people love you and Kyra sends her daddy Jo a big, big kiss.”

Cpl Etchells died on Sunday morning while on foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand province, when his platoon came under small arms fire, and a booby trap roadside bomb exploded.

He was serving with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and he was on his third tour in the war zone.

Tributes described him as a born leader who was looking forward to marrying his fiancee.