7:40am Tuesday 7th September 2010
By Matt Westcott
A SOLDIER who died after being caught in a blast in Afghanistan was last night named as an officer from North Yorkshire.
Captain Andy Griffiths, 25, born in Richmond, served with the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancasters Regiment.
His father, Brigadier Mike Griffiths, is colonel of the regiment.
He died on Sunday with his family at his side in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after he was wounded in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand province last month.
Capt Griffiths’ platoon had cleared and occupied a compound that was to be used as a future patrol base during a security operation, but as he moved through to allow entry for an approaching patrol he was caught in an explosion.
He was given first aid before being flown back to the UK for further treatment.
Capt Griffiths, a respected rugby player, trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and only ever wanted to join the Duke of Lancasters Regiment, known as the Lions of England.
Last night, his father and mother Sue, girlfriend Nicky, sisters, Abigail and Laura, and brother David, said in a statement: “Andrew was a beloved son, brother and boyfriend who will be hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives.
“We are immensely proud of him and all that he has achieved in his all-too-short life. He died doing a job he loved and excelled at.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Capt Griffiths’ commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Boyd.
“Captain Andy Griffiths – or ‘Griff’ as my officers knew him – was an officer with courage, charm, values, humility and above all else a sense of fun,” he said. “He played as hard as he fought in battle.
“An inspirational leader of Lions of England, a regimental son, a friend, a sportsman and a son and brother; a talisman to all who knew him.
“His humility was his trademark when in uniform and the respect from his Lions – particularly his young Kingsmen – was genuinely the most impressive I have seen in a young officer in my 24 years in the infantry.
“In 12 months of deployments to central Helmand, I have never seen so many soldiers requesting that their tributes be included as words that will follow my own.
“For myself it has been difficult to write my own words without fighting back a tear, I know that is also the case with my soldiers.”
Of the many who also wanted to remember Capt Griffiths, Captain Bowden- Williams, company second in command, Arnhem Company, 2 Lancs, spoke for most when he said: “When Griff was taken from us, a family lost a loving son, the Army lost a shining star, the regiment lost a Lion, the Kingsmen lost a natural leader and I lost a brother and true friend.”
Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox, also paid tribute last night, describing Capt Griffiths as “an exceptional officer who inspired his men and led them by example”.
“He had distinguished himself as a platoon commander in Afghanistan, and it is typical of his courage that he was leading his men on a vital operation when he was injured,”
he said.
“I was greatly saddened to hear of his death and my thoughts are with his colleagues and, most importantly, his family at this difficult time.”
Captain Nath Liladhar, Company Second in Command, Blenheim Company, 2 Lancs, said: “The world will be a lesser place without Andy Griffiths. He has left a gaping hole in the regiment with so many friends around him, friends and soldiers from whom he had unconditional respect.
“He commanded respect because he gave respect and, for this reason his Kingsmen would have followed him anywhere.
An intelligent, fit, incredibly robust and very loyal man, Griff would have gone far, whatever he had turned his hand to.”
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