| Location | Taunton |
| Age | 24 years |
| Cause of Death | In the Line of Duty |
| Date of Birth | 23/11/1984 |
| Date of Death | 25/02/2009 |
| Visitors | 1,181 since 15/06/2009 |
| Creator |
Corporal Tom Gaden, Rifleman Jamie Gunn, and Lance Corporal Paul Upton, all of 1st Battalion The
Rifles, died in in southern Afghanistan.
The soldiers died from wounds sustained as a result of an enemy explosion during an escort patrol in
the Gereshk district, central Helmand province.
Tom Gaden was born in Taunton, attending Bishop Fox's Community School. He took part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and had been a member of the Blackbrook Scout Troop.
He enlisted into the Army in Taunton and, on completion of the Combat Infantryman's Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, was posted to 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry (2 LI, later to become 3 RIFLES) on 25 November 2002.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 2005 and attended the Section Commanders Battle Course in the summer of 2006. His performance was remarked upon as the 'best of the 2 LI batch'.
He served on Op TELIC 2 (Iraq) and on peacekeeping operations in Cyprus, joining the 2 LI Recce (Reconnaissance) Platoon where he was 'zealous and enthusiastic' by nature, earning the respect of his peers and becoming one of the most popular members of his platoon.
Corporal Gaden was posted to 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) in February 2008, moving to E Company that April, and was immediately selected to attend the Close Quarters Battle Skills Course with a view to passing on these skills to the company for the tour to Afghanistan.
However, he was almost immediately selected to deploy as a Section Commander to Umm Qasr, Iraq, as part of the battalion's commitment to that operational theatre. He spent four months working with the Naval Transition Team before redeploying just after Christmas 2008 to rejoin his original team in a remote Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Helmand, southern Afghanistan.
Corporal Gaden was a competent and assuredly professional operator, selected for the technically complex skills of Close Quarters Battle, then selected again to carry out a discrete and independent task for the battalion.
He took these rapid changes in his stride, remaining resourceful and flexible to the operational requirements and always relishing the challenge. He thrived in Iraq and led his section with skill and determination throughout that short tour.
On arrival in Afghanistan, he immediately involved himself in the small team environment in an isolated and austere FOB as team third-in-command, stepping up where necessary as second-in-command of the team.
Corporal Gaden was a Rifleman of the calibre that has shaped the regiment's reputation and the battalion's character and ethos. He was well known for his strong faith and deep sense of duty, which was reflected in his qualities as a commander and friend to those around him.
He was part of the future of this great organisation and his sacrifice will be felt by all Riflemen. Our sense of loss cannot match the sorrow and grief that is being felt by Corporal Gaden's family, and his fiancée. Our prayers are with them at this time.
Once a Rifleman, always a Rifleman, 'Swift and Bold'.
Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh, Commanding Officer, 1 RIFLES, said:
"The news that Corporal Tom Gaden had been killed by an Improvised Explosive Device was devastating for the battalion and heart-breaking for his family and friends.
"It has been a bitter blow. Of all of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams, Tom's was one of the tightest knit, as a result of its relative isolation and the challenges the team has overcome in the course of this tour; of consolation to Tom and his fellow heroic Riflemen will be the fact that they fell together.
"I remember Tom from my 2 LI days in Edinburgh; there he was already showing great potential and the signs that he would develop into an outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). He was already a popular and respected leader.
"In addition he had amassed rich, impressive achievements and experiences from outside Army life - most of all his beloved young family - and as a result he will be very badly and widely missed."
My Soldier Boy
My angel was a soldier boy
travelling far and wide,
He served his country faithfully
with his comrades by his side.
My soldier boy was just a child
when he signed up for the cause,
but little did we know that soon
he would be fighting in the wars.
He wore his uniform so proud,
and medals for all to see,
but little did I know quite soon,
he wouldn't come back to me.
So as he waved bye bye that day
We both stood there and cried,
and then that awful letter came
for his country he had died.
I sometimes smile, I sometimes cry
now that we are apart
I will never forget you soldier boy
You're always in my heart.
Written by Jean Cavanagh 2009
Fallen HeroI stare at the coffin;
Draped with the nation's cloth.
I'm momentarily startled;
As the guns go off.
Another fallen soldier;
Being laid to rest.
I struggle to breathe;
For this tightness in my chest.
The bugler so smooth;
As he hits every note.
It is hard to swallow;
Because of this lump in my throat.
Tears fall like rain;
As I look to the sky.
No matter how many times I hear it;
Taps still makes me cry.
The bugle now silent;
As we pray for the dead.
I gather myself;
As I bow down my head.
Lord bless these heroes;
Who have given their lives.
Comfort their children;
Their husbands and wives.
Let us not forget;
They have given their all.
Author unknown
Letter From Heaven
When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today,
while thinking of the many things,
we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you,
and each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand,
that an Angel came and called my name,
and took me by the hand,
and said my place was ready,
in heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind,
all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
a tear fell from my eye,
for all life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
so much yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
that this could never be,
for emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
from His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
and all I've promised you".
Today for life on earth is past,
but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
but today will always last,
and since each day's the same day,
there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful,
so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things,
you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
and now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand
and share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
(Unknown)
Love Mary xxxx
A VETERANS THOUGHTS
I will think about you and all who gave your lives for this country. I do so through all my Associations.
The Royal Naval Association
The Deep Sea Rescue Tugs Association
The Cameronians (Scottish Riffles) Families Association
The Royal British Legion Scotland
WE WILL REMEMBER, ALWAYS.
So sorry
Think of me and know I am with you,
Think of me and smile.
Think of me and know that our parting
Is only for a while.
On the days that you feel so desperate
To see my smiling face,
Just believe in your heart I am with you
And that I'm in a beautiful place.
So think of me and remember,
All the memories in your heart,
And believe and know that this is true,
We are never really apart.
Your country can NEVER thank you enough...your life was too high a price, I'm so sorry Tom. Love Liz, Stuart's mum x
XX GONE TOO SOON XX
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
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