Washington soldier killed in Cyprus remembered 50 years on at service

Representatives of the Coldstream Guards, the Washington Royal British Legion, and Holy Trinity Church all attended the service.

Bob Hardy, 71, from Killingworth, North Tyneside also served in the Coldstream Guards and was in Cyprus in 1974 when Guardsman Lawson died.

“I don’t remember him myself but I have spoken to colleagues who knew him who said he was a quiet lad but then he’d only just joined, he’d only been out there for such a short time,” he said.

He said he had never forgotten what had happened to Guardsman Lawson, adding: “I remember hearing about his death and it really affected the whole battalion.”

Mr Parker said the next step in remembering the young soldier would be adding his name to a local war memorial, hopefully before Remembrance Day this year.

“If that happens before this November, on that occasion, he will be referred to as another resident of the area who lost his life, and therefore the wider public of the town will learn of this incident,” he added.