Mother of Birkenhead’s Trooper Phillip Lawrence pays tribute to her son after his death in Afghanistan

Aug 5 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

THE mother of a Wirral soldier killed in Afghanistan has paid touching tribute to her “loving and caring” son.

Birkenhead-born Trooper Phillip Lawrence, 22, of the Light Dragoons, died last week after his Scimitar armoured vehicle was caught in an explosion.

The former Ridgeway high school pupil leaves four brothers – Christopher, Liam, Ryan and Lewis – his wife Amy and baby daughter Jessica.

He was the second Wirral soldier to die in Afghanistan in the space of a week.

Birkenhead-born Guardsman Christopher King died on July 22 while on foot patrol in the Nad-e-Ali District, when he stood on an explosive during Operation Panther’s Claw.

The mother of Trooper Lawrence, Gaynor Lawrence, 42, said: “Although we were mum and son, we were also best mates.

“We were a team and we all adored him.

“He loved his mum, his brothers, his wife and his little baby girl.