Citizen News

Tributes to Duke of Lancaster captain

By Emma Cruces

8:25pm Monday 6th September 2010

A DUKE of Lancaster’s Regiment who died after being wounded in action in Afghanistan has been named.

Captain Andrew Griffiths, 25, from 2nd Battalion, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, a week after he was wounded while leading his platoon on an operation in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand.

The MoD said his soldiers had cleared and occupied a compound that was to be used as a future patrol base during a security operation.

As Cpt Griffiths, known as ‘Griff’ to fellow soldiers, moved through the compound to allow entry for an approaching patrol he was caught in an explosion which seriously injured him.

He died of his wounds on Sunday, surrounded by his family.

Born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, he was brought up in a military family and studied European and International Studies at Loughborough University before starting the Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in September 2007.

Whilst at Sandhurst, it was said Capt Griffiths only ever considered joining The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, known as the 'Lions of England' as it was also his father's regiment.

Last night, his father and mother Sue, girlfriend Nicky, sisters, Abigail and Laura, and brother David, said in a statement: “Andrew was a beloved son, brother and boyfriend who will be hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives.

“We are immensely proud of him and all that he has achieved in his all-too-short life. He died doing a job he loved and excelled at.”

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Boyd said: “The respect from his Lions – particularly his young Kingsmen – was genuinely the most impressive I have seen in a young officer in my 24 years in the Infantry.

"He will never be forgotten because none of our close regimental family will ever be able to forget him.”

In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, the family of Cpt Griffiths, said: "Andrew was a beloved son, brother and boyfriend who will be hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives."

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