Tributes to Afghan bomb blast victim (From The Advertiser Series)

Tributes to Afghan bomb blast victim

5:35pm Tuesday 17th November 2009

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THE family and comrades of a soldier killed in Afghanistan have paid tribute to “the bravest of men”.

Phillip Scott, 30, from Richmond, was helping to clear explosives in Sangin on November 5, when he was hit by a bomb blast.

A serjeant in the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, he was a veteran of the conflict in Iraq and was serving in Afghanistan with his brother, Robin.

Sjt Scott’s body was flown home last Tuesday.

Sjt Michael Gibbons, of the same battalion, recently returned from Afghanistan and was asked to attend the repatriation on behalf of members of The Rifles still overseas.

Sjt Gibbons said: “It has been a very hard week. The last memory I have of Scotty is his laughter – it was infectious.

He was an amazing guy.”

He was hailed by his commanding officer as “the toughest of men and the gentlest of friends”.

Sjt Scott, a married fatherof- two, was born in Malton, and grew up in Richmond, where his father, Mike, is the gamekeeper for the Zetland Estate.

His wife, Ellen, said: “My husband was a very brave man, loved by all his family, and a very dear husband and father.”

Sjt Scott joined the Army in 2001, following a stint working on the Zetland Estate after he left Richmond School.

He completed initial training at the Army Training Regiment, Winchester, and the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrison, before he passed out to join C Company, 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry in January 2002.

During his career, Sjt Scott served twice in Iraq as well as in Northern Ireland.

He also worked as a training officer in Catterick Garrison, before his final deployment to Afghanistan in September on Operation Herrick 11, alongside his brother.

One resident in Richmond said: “I knew Scotty when he was a kid. He was such a lovely lad. His dad must be totally devastated. It has been a real shock to everyone here. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Lord Ronaldshay, of the Zetland Estate, said: “You hear about soldiers dying in Afghanistan on the news, but this has made it all so real for everyone here. There are no words to describe how devastating it is.

“Everyone’s thoughts are with his family.”

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer 3 Rifles Battle Group, said: “Sjt Scott was the most professional of soldiers, the toughest of men and the gentlest of friends.

“Naturally charming and disarmingly polite, he was considerate and compassionate to his core.”

Sjt Scott leaves behind his wife and two children – Ellie, three, and Michael, one. The family live in Edinburgh.

● “Serjeant” is a traditional spelling used by The Rifles.

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