Lance Corporal Steven P Wilson

Lance Corporal Steven Paul Wilson, 3 PARA was killed in a Command Wire Improvised Explosive Device (CWIED) attack on a vehicle patrol in South Down near Mayobridge on 18 November 1989.

From Pegasus Journal April 1990.

3rd BATTALION

The Parachute Regiment It was during a tour of Rathfriland that 'A' Company had three soldiers tragically killed when an IRA bomb was detonated beside their Landover. The attack took place on Saturday 18 November at Mayobridge when a massive command wire initiated device blew the first of two Landrovers completely off the road. Three soldiers were killed instantly. They were L/Cpl Steven Wilson and Ptes Donald MacAulay and Mathew Marshall. Miraculously, the fourth soldier in the landrover, Pte Lee Manning, survived, which is incredible, considering that the vehicle was totally destroyed by the blast.

The dead soldiers each had a funeral in their home towns and it was remarkable how strong the immediate relatives were, even in the midst of their grief. Indeed, the mother of Donald MacAulay said to the assembled media at his funeral, whilst holding her son's beret in her hands, "It's the badge he lived for and the badge he died for". This sentiment was not untypical of other individuals' reaction to the tragedy. Such a tragedy must however affect everybody within the battalion deeply and it was a very difficult time for us all. The Battalion was able to pay its own respects to the dead at a Memorial Service on 30 November, here in Palace Barracks.

OBITUARY

LANCE CORPORAL STEVEN WILSON

Lance Corporal Steven.'Willo’ Wilson was 23 years old and came from Hereford. He joined the Army in August 1984 and after initial training at the Parachute Regiment Depot in Aldershot he was posted to 3 PARA in March 1985.

His initial service was with 'C' Company where he took part in exercises in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He also spent 6 months in Cyprus in 1986 on a tour with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. After spending some time with the Anti-Tank Platoon he was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1988 and posted to 'A' Company as a team Commander.

He was both well-liked and respected by his men and fellow JNCOs. Willo was also a keen sportsman who had represented the Battalion at Rugby. His untimely death is an extremely sad loss to the Battalion and all his family and friends who will miss him dearly.

L/Cpl Wilson is buried at Whithington Churchyard Cemetery,  Hereford.