8:51am Wednesday 11th November 2009
By Jennifer Bell
HUNDREDS of people lined the streets to pay their respects as the body of fallen war hero Serjeant Phillip Scott was brought home.
Serjeant Scott, 30, who was born in Malton, was killed by an improvised explosive device near Sangin, in the Helmand area of Afghanistan, last Thursday.
A veteran of the conflict in Iraq, Serjeant Scott, of the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, was serving in Afghanistan with his brother, Robin.
He leaves a widow, Ellen, and children, Ellie, three, and Michael, one.
His body was flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire yesterday, alongside five fellow British soldiers also killed in Afghanistan in the past week.
After a private repatriation ceremony for their families, hearses carrying their Union flag-draped coffins passed along the high street of nearby Wootton Bassett.
In a poignant nod to the lives lost in the Afghanistan conflict, townsfolk lined the route to pay their respects as the procession continued to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
Crowds have appeared along the route to pay their respects since the bodies of British service personnel began being brought home through RAF Lyneham in 2007. Among the crowds yesterday was BNP leader Nick Griffin.
Serjeant Scott, known as “Scotty”, was killed as his platoon carried out a clearance operation.
He joined the Army in 2001, following a stint working on the Zetland Estate after he left Richmond School.
He completed initial training at the Army Training Regiment, Winchester, and the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrison, before he passed out to join C Company, 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry, in January 2002.
During his career, Sgt Scott served twice in Iraq as well as in Northern Ireland.
He also worked as a training officer in Catterick Garrison, before his final deployment to Afghanistan in September.
A total of 232 UK troops have died since the mission in Afghanistan began in October 2001.
• The spelling Serjeant is correct for the regiment.
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