
Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2011, Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron, 1st Battalion, the Scots Guards. died as a result of wounds he had received in Afghanistan eleven months before when he stepped on an IED while on foot patrol north of Lashkar Gah. He lost both legs and his left arm with severe damage to his right, but worst of all lost a lot of the front lobe of his brain. He was considered to be making a good recovery after undergoing a number of difficult operations when he died suddenly; the post-mortem found that his death was directly attributable to the injuries he had suffered.
He had joined the Scots Guards in 1989 – his childhood dream - and from the start was a professional and passionate soldier. In Afghanistan where he had been in charge of the Fire Support Group, he was considered a much-admired father figure and a gentleman. Former Platoon Commander Nicholas Brandram found him to be the epitome of an experienced mentor, a trusted advisor and good friend in what he described as the finest traditions of the Scots Guards.
One of his comrades said: "Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron is one of the most inspirational men I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I have known Cammy for around 20 years and nothing, no matter how bad, was ever a problem. When Cammy came back from Afghanistan having been wounded in action things were touch-and-go but Cammy defied all the odds and pulled through. Despite his own injuries, he endeavoured to visit all the families of all the other injured personnel in Selly Oak and encouraged them to be positive while they were going through their most difficult and demanding times. Cammy has left a huge void in the Scots Guards and will be missed by all."
Alan, from Livingston in Scotland, was 42 years old and left behind his eleven-year-old son.
