Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2008, Trooper Robert Pearson from the Queen's Royal Lancers Regiment died in Afghanistan. He was part of the Armoured Support Company Royal Marines who were providing security to a resupply convoy returning to Camp Bastion when the vehicle he was driving triggered a mine. He had joined his local regiment, The Queen’s Royal Lancers, in the previous year, becaming the driver of a Scimitar Reconnaissance vehicle.
He was posted to A Squadron where he took part in Pre-Deployment Training in Viking all-terrain vehicles, and deployed to Afghanistan three months before his death. He is remembered as a highly professional soldier, and a gifted Viking operator. These words from his Commanding Officer: "Trooper Robert Pearson had only served with The Queen’s Royal Lancers for just over a year since completing his training; yet he had already made a name for himself in his Squadron where he was a popular and well respected individual.
He took a keen and professional interest in his job as a Formation Reconnaissance soldier; his outgoing and confident manner giving a strong indication to his chain of command that he was a talent to watch. For those that might question whether or not today’s soldiers are a match for their forebears he was ample proof that they are every bit as good and more. The Lancers have lost a good soldier today." Robert, from Grimsby, was 22 years old.