Lance Corporal Barry Stephen, 1st Battalion, The Black Watch
- Christina Drummond
- Mar 24, 2017
- 1 min read
Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2003, Lance Corporal Barry Stephen of 1st Battalion, died in Al Zubayr, Southern Iraq. He was the first Scottish soldier to be killed in action in Iraq and was awarded a posthumous Mention in Dispatches, and he was also awarded a posthumous medal for bravery from the U.S. government.
According to a report at the time, he climbed onto the roof of the armoured personnel carrier he was travelling in when it came under fire from Iraqi troops posing as civilians, his intention being to protect his comrades by returning fire.
Sadly he was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade which hit the carrier. He was described as a "true hero" by colleagues at the Black Watch headquarters in Perth, where dozens of wreaths were laid in his honour, and at his funeral a piper played "The Flowers of the Forest." Barry was 31 years old and married.
Condolences to family and friends, Kith and Kin, mates who remain. Deep Peace and Blessings of Strength to all y'all. I was in-country when Lance Corporal Stephen was killed, and, as a fellow Warrior, did give pause to say, "Lest We Never Forget!" and continued the mission. Recently, Bruce Fummey, of Scotland History Tours, of Perth, honored Stephen in a Youtube video--and I remember. V/r, Captain Richard Arlington Briggs, Jr., US Army, Retired. Central Texas.