Another local soldier killed

ANOTHER soldier from Warrington has died as a result of injuries while serving in Afghanistan.
Private Thomas Sephton, aged 20, from Great Sankey, was wounded in an explosion while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Sunday.
He was flown to hospital in Birmingham where he died on Monday .
His patrol was providing protection for the clearance of a road in the Upper Gereshk Valley.
Private Sephton is the second soldier from Great Sankey to die in Afghanistan and the third from Warrington. He died just four days after the funeral of former school friend Marine Steven Birdsall, who also died in hospital in Birmingham after being flown to the UK for treatment.
Last August, Fusilier Simon Annis, a former pupil of Culcheth High School, died after an explosion.
Pte Sephton enlisted into the Army in July 2008 and joined the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)in January 2009 following the Combat Infantryman’s Course in Catterick. He joined Mortar Platoon and served in the United Kingdom, The Falkland Islands and Kenya, and on operations in Afghanistan.
On Sunday morning, operating in a Rifle Platoon, Pte Sephton deployed from Patrol Base Malvern tasked with providing flank protection to an IED clearance operation. While clearing a route for his section he was caught in an IED blast and seriously wounded.
He was flown by helicopter to Camp Bastion and then flown to the UK. On Monday afternoon, with his family present, the decision was taken to switch off his life support machine and he died of his wounds.
His family have made the following statement: “Tom meant the world to everyone who knew him. We are so very proud of our brave soldier. He will be with us forever in our hearts.”
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hadfield, his Commanding Officer said:”Private Tom Sephton joined the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) in January 2009, choosing to serve with the Mortar Platoon from the outset.
“He had been enthused by the nature of the Platoon, and he fitted in well from the very start, training with them in the Falkland Islands and Kenya, before deploying to Afghanistan.
“He was a hardworking man, always ready to volunteer for additional work or responsibility in order to improve the lot of others.
“He is remembered by his friends as a man who never complained, who just got on with the job, however difficult or unpleasant it was. This is probably the reason that he was often to be found at the head of patrols, searching for IEDs that would threaten them.
“He was courageous and selfless to the last, placing himself in harm’s way to save others. When he was mortally injured he was alongside his best friend Private Charlie Emina, and amongst his mates whom he did so much to help.
“Tom Sephton was not a particularly big man in terms of size, but he had a big heart, and was full of fun and energy. He was a keen rugby player and enjoyed playing on the wing for his Company, where his fitness and speed were more than a match for most.
“He punched above his weight in every way, whether militarily, in sporting activities or by just being a great friend and comrade. His obvious ability had been spotted, and he was due to attend a promotion course on return from Afghanistan”.