Thornaby woman pays tribute to soldier on 28th anniversary of his death in Bosnia

Private Shaun Taylor, from Thornaby, was just 20 when he was killed in Bosnia in June 1994.

Today marks the 28th anniversary of his death, which devastated his whole family, including parents Frank and Cynthia.

He was shot by a sniper while on duty on June 26, 1994. 

Angela Plews, his sister, is hoping to visit the town where he died this year to see a new memorial.

Read more: Thornaby soldier killed in Bosnia set to be remembered with memorial

She is urging people from his home town to contribute to efforts to raise £75,000 for the memorial for six soldiers killed in the town of Gorazde between April 1994 and September 1995.

Angela, 46, who was three years younger than Shaun, said: “It’s exciting and emotional. I just hope its going to give me some closure. There’s just me and my brother now because my dad recently passed and mam passed.

“At least dad knew it was going to be done. He was so proud. He would have gone over if he could.”

Private Shaun Taylor

Pte Taylor served with The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, which was deployed in Gorazde as part of the British forces there to prevent a genocide similar to what happened in the town of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslims were killed by Bosnian Serbs. 

Children in the town have been looking after a memorial created to commemorate the effort.

However, there is no memorial to the soldiers who gave their lives in the defence of the town.

Though a memorial 'Taylor's Post' was erected in Bosnia after his death, it has not survived.

Taylor's Post was erected to remember Shaun in Bosnia but it has not survived

The regiment is also planning to refurbish a classroom at the school, which will be named in honour of Pte Taylor.

Angela, who still lives in Thornaby, said: “I’ve had to fight for everything, for army records. I still don’t really know what happened that day. The guys are quite reluctant to talk about which I understand. It didn’t just affect my family, it affected the whole army family. I think it might give me that bit of closure if I see where he took his last breaths.

“It means everything to me. It means the world that he’s not going to be forgotten. We will never forget him bit it means no-one will because there’s a lasting memorial.

“They’re naming a classroom after him which is amazing. He loved kids. We used to send over sweets and he would hand them out to the kids.”

Shaun Taylor in Bosnia

She is also hoping to visit a Bosnian family with whom Shaun had spent time working at their farm, after they recently connected on Facebook.

She added: “He was such a cheeky chap. He was always smiling and playing jokes. He was a really lovable lad, If you spoke to anyone who knew him they would say he was a happy go lucky person.

“The day my brother died, my whole family died. It was total grief. My mam never got out of bed. I looked after her for 26 years until she died. She couldn’t bare it – the grief was too much.”

The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, The Special Air Service Regiment, The Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and The Royal Welsh Fusiliers are working together to raise £75,000 for a British Army Memorial Park, which they hope will be unveiled in September.

To find out more about the fundraising and to donate visit:   https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dukesbosnianmemorialcampaign  

Angela's memorial for her brother at her home

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