RICHARD SHEARERSecond Lieutenant Richard Shearer, who died on in Iraq on 16 July, 2005 aged 26, was an inspirational Platoon Commander with the 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment.
Family have described how, even from a young age, Second Lieutenant Shearer always put others before himself. He was kind, intelligent and compassionate, with exemplary leadership skills.
His colleagues responded to his humour and positive spirit, and he will be remembered by all as an inspirational commander.
Second Lieutenant Richard Shearer was born on 7 December, 1978, in Nuneaton and was an exceptional pupil at Handsworth Grammar School, Birmingham. He enjoyed both academic and sporting success and gained a reputation for his outstanding fitness.
He had long held an ambition to join the armed forces and joined the French Foreign Legion when he left school at 18. He spent nearly six years with the Legion, serving in Kosovo, Macedonia and Chad.
At the end of his contract, Second Lieutenant Shearer returned to England, where he turned down an offer from Birmingham University to join the British Army. He completed officer training at Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Staffordshire Regiment in 2004.
Second Lieutenant Shearer was deployed to Al Amarah in Iraq in April 2005 to work alongside the battle group Task Force Maysan.
Hewas commanding a patrol of three armoured Snatch Land-Rovers in Al Amarah, when a roadside bomb exploded.
Second Lieutenant Shearer and his top cover sentry Private Leon Spicer were killed instantly. The driver, Private Phillip Hewett, later died of his wounds. Two other British soldiers were also wounded in the attack.
Lt Col Andrew Williams, Commanding Officer of the Staffordshire Regiment, said: "Second Lieutenant Shearer was a bold Platoon Commander and certainly no stranger to either danger or excitement. He had quickly established himself as a true soldier and a leader of men. His passion for soldiering was infectious and he was highly respected by everyone.
"A true accolade: his men loved him and regarded him as much more than their Platoon Commander. One of the very best of his peers, and an inspiration, Second Lieutenant Shearer had only just been selected to run the next cadre for soldiers wishing to become Junior Non-Commissioned Officers. In the Officers' Mess, Rich was a popular friend to all, fun to be around and with a mischievous sense of humour."
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