Wirral-born soldier's name engraved on West Kirby war memorial

Nov 4 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

A WIRRAL-born soldier’s name has been engraved on the West Kirby war memorial.

Phillip Lawrence, 22, from Birkenhead died on July 27, in Afghanistan, after being caught in an explosion while driving his Scimitar armoured vehicle.

He was the first person from Wirral to die fighting in Afghanistan and his name has now joined a list of others on the World War One memorial located at the top of the hill off Grange Old Road, West Kirby.

Trooper Lawrence, of the Light Dragoons, described by his commanding officer as “utterly selfless”, left his wife Amy and baby daughter Jessica.

He was the eldest of five brothers who were raised in Upton by their mother Gaynor. She said: “Having Phillip’s name engraved on the memorial is an honour but it also reminds me that he’s gone.

“It’s only been about 12 weeks since he died so everything is still very emotional.