It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Liam Riley and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (3 YORKS) were killed in Helmand province on Monday 1 February 2010.
The soldiers, who were serving as part of the Coldstream Guards Battle Group, were killed as a result of two improvised explosive device (IED) blasts near Malgir, which lies between Babaji and Gereshk.
Corporal Liam Matthew Riley
Corporal Liam Matthew Riley was born in Sheffield on 7 July 1988. He finished Army training in July 2005 at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick and arrived in the Battalion in Sep 2005.
He completed the Section Commanders’ Battle Course in 2009 and was promoted to Corporal later that year.
Corporal Riley was a member of a 3 YORKS platoon serving with 1 Coldstream Guards Battle Group, in the Babaji District of central Helmand province. On 1 Feb 2010, he was the patrol 2iC of a base security foot patrol south of the Kings Hill check point when an improvised explosive device detonated. Corporal Riley received catastrophic injuries from the explosion and was killed in Action.
Corporal Riley’s family said:
"Liam was a wonderful son who always wanted to join the Army from being very young. He loved Army-style stories as a little boy.
"When he was old enough to join he took to Army life like a duck to water.
"He was very conscientious with his Army work and didn’t want to disappoint anyone. We were very proud of him and what he achieved both in life and in his Army career.
"Liam liked sport and tried many different types – long enough to join or get the kit – but none lasted as long as football.
"This was his love and when he was at home he played for both Beighton Magpies and the Throstles and was a keen Sheffield Wednesday supporter even when he was away in Afghanistan.
"One of the things he asked when he rang home was how "Wednesday" were doing.
"He loved and respected his family and friends and was very close to his siblings Jonathan and Olivia.
"He was a bubbly, fun-loving lad and all his family and friends loved him – no-one will ever replace him."
Lance Corporal Graham Nathan Shaw
Lance Corporal Graham Nathan Shaw was born in Huddersfield on 31 January 1983.
He completed Army training in September 2000 at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, and arrived in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in November of the same year.
He successfully undertook a JNCO cadre in 2002 promoting to Lance Corporal in the spring of 2004.
Lance Corporal Shaw was a member of a 3 YORKS platoon serving wih 1 Coldstream Guards Battle Group, in the Babaji District of central Helmand province.
On the 1 February 2010, he was a Team Leader of a base security foot patrol south of the Kings Hill check point when an improvised explosive device detonated killing him instantly.
Lance Corporal Shaw's family said:
"Russ and Karen Shaw, and all the members of Graham’s family are deeply saddened by the loss of a beloved member of the family who has been taken away from us in the prime of life.
"Graham enjoyed life to the full, running everywhere. He ran to visit relatives in Calderdale and often ran on the moors near his home.
"He was very active and took part in many different sports from sky diving last summer to skiing with the Army in Canada and even surfing on the South coast – he was up for anything.
"Graham was a soldier from 16 when he attended the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.
"He was proud to be a member of the British Army like his father before him. He knew the danger that he was to face whilst serving in Afghanistan.
"He lost his life doing the job he liked and enjoyed.
"We are all very proud of our hero. We ask that the family be left to grieve in peace."
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