Tragic soldier's dad doesn't blame army (From Stourbridge News)

Tragic soldier's dad doesn't blame army

2:57pm Friday 1st June 2007 in Local By Bev Holder

A DEVASTATED Brierley Hill dad says he doesn't blame the army one bit following his soldier son's tragic death in action in Afghanistan.

Twenty-two-year-old Grenadier Guardsman Daniel Probyn died in an explosion during an operation to clear a Taliban stronghold in the south of the deadly Helmand Province.

His army colleagues have praised him as a hero - but his family, who live in Hawbush Road, Brierley Hill, have been left heartbroken at his untimely death.

However - devastated dad Tim told the News: "I don't blame the army one bit. They've been so supportive.

"He wouldn't have gone if he hadn't been proud to serve his country; he didn't have to go. He knew what was going on over there and he knew it was tough.

"But he wanted to get his own money to settle down with his girl."

Daniel, who had been on two tours of duty in Iraq before going to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, had been dating girlfriend Michelle from Aldershot since January.

Mr Probyn added: "If he'd come back from Afghanistan I think he would have proposed - he'd never brought a girl home before and he did want to settle down with her.

"Deep down I think his plan was to leave the forces, but he loved the army.

"As a kid he would get WWII gas masks from car boot sales. He loved anything to do with the military from about the age of four."

As well as parents Tim and Ann, both 46; Daniel leaves a sister Carrie, aged 21, and three brothers - Luke, aged 19, Steven, aged 17, and James, aged 14.

A guardsman with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards based at Garmsir in Southern Helmand, he had been in the army since 2003 and had won the utmost respect of his comrades.

Major Will Mace, company commander, paid a glowing tribute. He said: "Guardsman Probyn was without question one of the very best soldiers in the company. Consumately professional in everything he did, he was one of those men who always delivered a thousand times more than was asked of him. He was completely dedicated to his job and to the men around him. He loved soldiering and so died doing something he loved and believed in totally."

Daniel will be given a full military funeral on Thursday June 7 at Christ Church, Quarry Bank, at 3pm. The High Street will be closed to traffic between 2pm and 4pm.