Fitting tribute to tragic Mansfield soldier
Mary Fell pictured is helped by her fiancee Darren Brailsford to lay a wreath at the Mansfield Heroes Memorial on Sunday
A MEMORIAL stone has been laid at Mansfield’s Heroes Memorial dedicated to a tragic soldier who took his own life.
A ceremony was held at Carr Bank Park on Sunday and a remembrance stone laid in the memorial rose gardens bearing the name Pte Ashley Clarkson.
The 23 year-old is the first serviceman to be honoured in the rose gardens that have been designed to remember men and women from the Mansfield area that have a connection with the services.
Pte Clarkson served with 43 Logistics Support (RAOC) for six-and-a-half years, experiencing action in Iraq.
In 2009 he was diagnosed with having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) before leaving the services in April 2011.
Ashley, who grew up in the Ladybrook area of Mansfield, committed suicide in March.
Family and friends gathered at the memorial on Sunday morning where his
mother, Mary Fell, unveiled the plaque.
She said: “It was absolutely beautiful, it was a fitting tribute to Ashley and I could not have felt more honoured for what they did, especially with it being the war memorial.
“It was an emotional day for all of us but really fitting.”
Since his death, Ashley’s family has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness for PTSD saying Ashley had been given little help for the illness despite his diagnosis.
PTSD affects many servicemen who have endured first-hand the horrors of war.
It was reported that a seven-year-old Iraqi girl had died in his arms after stepping on a bomb, which had left Ashley “distraught”.
He got into trouble whilst on leave and was banned from driving. He left the Army in April last year.
He secured a job at a joinery firm and appeared to get his life back on track, before being found hanged by his girlfriend Chloe on 10th March this year.
His devastated father Wayne went on to organise a successful walk from Crich War Memorial to Mansfield War Memorial in July, to raise awareness of PTSD.
Meanwhile, Ashley’s sister Natasha continues to collect donated items for an auction she is planning for the cause.
So far items such as Nottingham Forest memorabilia Ashley’s favourite football team- have been donated.
Ashley’s mother Mary said the auction will now take place during a black-tie event planned at the John Fretwell Centre in April, to commemorate Ashley and Lee Bonsall from Warsop.
The 24-year-old Army veteran also suffered from PTSD and was found hanged a week before Ashley.
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Weather for Mansfield
Tuesday 21 May 2013
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