THE grief-stricken mother of Tavistock paratrooper Andrew Kelly, who died in Iraq last week, has paid tribute to her ?fearless? son.
Andrew, 18, of the 3rd Parachute Regiment, was killed last Tuesday week in what is believed to be a tragic shooting accident.
In a heartfelt written statement, his mother, Helen Yallop, said: ?Andrew?s loss is deeply felt by all the family. We are devastated. He was a wonderful, fearless and confident son, always well mannered, who, even as a boy, desired only to be a Para.
?Even at school in Tavistock he was single-minded about an army career, knowing it would fulfil his ambitions for travel and sport. He loved roller blading, swimming and skiing and had enjoyed many family trips abroad.
?In his last call to me just days ago he said, ?Don?t worry about me, mum, Paras always go to heaven.?
?He will be missed sorely too by his two dogs, especially Roxy, a Staffordshire terrier, who sense a terrible tragedy has befallen us all.
?Andrew remains alive in our thoughts and memories. It will always be so.?
Andrew, who turned 18 in March, was stationed in Basra at the time of his death, as part of Operation Telic.
His Commanding Officer, Lt Col Matthew Lowe, described him as ?quiet, but confident and likeable? in a written tribute.
He said: ?The loss of Private Andy Kelly is especially tragic. He was a young man full of energy and life with a long career in the Parachute Regiment ahead of him.
?Andy had recently joined the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, having come from the infantry training centre where he had completed basic training and had proved himself to be fit, mentally agile, professional and highly determined.
?It had always been Andy?s ambition to be a Parachute Regiment soldier and he was welcomed from the moment he arrived. He had just started to make new friends and settle down into post-war operations in Iraq.
?Andy was quiet, but confident and likeable. He was very polite and carried out his job in the professional manner expected from a member of the British army on operations.
?Our thoughts are with Andy?s family and friends who have asked for privacy at this exceptionally difficult time.?
Lt Col Lowe added the Battalion would be holding a private memorial service in Iraq.
Andrew, a former Tavistock College student, was part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Colchester. He was sent to Iraq just five days after his 18th birthday, which he had spent with his close friend Jo Smith, of Yelverton.
Jo said: ?Although Andrew was only just 18 when he died, he achieved a great deal in that short life.
?Andrew always wanted to be a paratrooper and while many of us wondered about our futures, he was getting on with his.?
?He really cared about his family and friends and I feel proud and privileged to be his friend. He had a great sense of humour, with quiet dignity and great courage. We know he will never come home and the world will be a worse place without him.?
Jo had received several letters from Andrew while he was in Iraq. In one, he wrote: ?Hi mate, how are you? I?m living it up in Iraq. I?m OK, I?ve been having artillery fired at me, blokes on motorbikes shooting at us, I?ve been taking bridges and lots of other things I can?t say now but I?ll tell you when I get back.
?How are things with you mate? It?s really hot in the day time but absolutely freezing at night. Say hi to all the lads for me.?
Alan Bruce, a teacher at Tavistock Primary School, was Andrew?s football coach in the days when he played for Bere Alston United.
Mr Bruce said he was shocked at the news.
?It?s very sad and particularly ironic as it wasn?t within the conflict,?he said.
?As far as I was concerned he always put his heart and soul into the team.
?I coached him for probably four years and he matured a lot in that time. He was always a lively lad but we had a really nice, respectful relationship.
?He was always reliable, always turned up for training. He was a valued member of the team.?