HEROIC Notts soldiers who gave their lives in the Iraq war are remembered today – ten years after the start of the conflict.
Leading aircraftman Martin Beard, 20, Sergeant Wayne Rees, 36 and Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman, 40, were among those killed.
Martin, of Rainworth, a member of No.1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, was engaged to be married when he was shot during a patrol in Basra on August 7, 2007.
Speaking to the Post for the first time, his sister Victoria, 30, of Toton, said: "What Martin went through was horrific and if he was here today I would tell him every single day how much of a hero he was to me and everyone else.
"When I think of him the overwhelming feeling is sadness still but also pride – he will always be a hero."
Martin's other sister, Rachael Towle, 27, of Ilkeston, takes comfort from knowing the good Martin did in Iraq, including helping to build schools.
"If anything is better over there for people, if anything good has come from him dying, then it is not a complete waste," she said.
"He died doing what he wanted to do and I don't think he would have wanted it any other way.
"Even before he died he was a hero to me. Everyone says it, but Martin really was incredibly special."
Mr Rees, 36, of The Queen's Royal Lancers, was serving with the 19 Light Brigade when he was killed in a road accident. The father-of-two, from Worksop, was commanding a Scimitar tank when it overturned in Maysan Province on January 7, 2007. He was also engaged to be married.
Mr Chapman was the commanding officer of 847 Naval Air Squadron, Somerset. He was killed when a helicopter crashed in Basra on May 6, 2006. He left a wife, Liz, and children Chloe, Ben and Georgina.
His father Roy Barfoot, 76, of Mansfield Woodhouse, said: "I'm absolutely proud. He died doing what he wanted to do and we won't forget how brave he was."
