Soldier's memorial to be unveiled in Welshpool

A memorial stone for a Powys soldier killed almost six years ago in Iraq is to be laid in his home town.

Lance Corporal Paul Thomas, 29, of Buttington, near Welshpool, was killed during a clash with militia forces in Basra on August 17, 2004.

Welshpool Town Council has now agreed to put a stone and plaque in the town's memorial garden in Howell Drive in memory of the soldier.

It will be officially unveiled by the Welshpool and District branch of the Royal British Legion on June 11 at 2pm.

Mr Thomas died when his patrol was attacked by armed Iraqi insurgents. He was a member of 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry but was attached to the 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment when he died.

He was laid to rest with full military honours in September 2004. His inquest heard he had been shot in the neck by gunmen thought to be loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr.

Town clerk Robert Robinson, said it was an honour to allow a stone and plaque to be placed in Mr Thomas's memory.

John Gwilt, secretary of the Welshpool and district branch of the Royal British Legion, who will officially unveil the plaque, said: "The branch decided to take the initiative and put a memorial stone and plaque into the garden of remembrance in memory of Lance Corporal Paul Thomas.

"We feel it should have been something that was done a lot sooner. However, we're pleased to say that the stone will officially be unveiled on June 11."