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MUM'S TRIBUTE TO MAN WHO TRIED TO SAVE SON IN AFGHANISTAN

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10 June 2010

Emma Ailes
news@southwarknews.org

The bereaved mother of a Dulwich soldier who died serving in Afghanistan has paid a moving tribute to the brave man who tried to rescue her son from heavy enemy fire.

Margaret Evison, from Court Lane in Dulwich, accompanied Gunner Steven Gadbsy to Buckingham Palace in March where the Queen decorated him the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - second only to the Victoria Cross - for his rescue of Lt Mark Evison, 26.

Former Dulwich College student, Lt Mark Evison, was serving as an officer in the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in a notorious region of Helmand province when he was shot in one shoulder. He was carried to safety on the shoulder of Gunner Steven Gadsby and given emergency treatment at Camp Bastion, however his condition worsened.

He was flown back to the UK, and on May 12, 2009, died of his injuries in Selly Oak Hospital with his family around him. Mrs Evison told the 'News' that she was very moved by the honour bestowed on Gunner Gadsby for carrying her son to safety: "They were being shot at from all sides, so he just picked Mark up and ran with him.

The medal is a very high honour and it can really change a person's life to be awarded it, so I'm glad that there are good things to come out of Mark's death."She added that she was thankful to be able to speak to him about the hours after Mark was shot, when he was still conscious.

After his death, Mark's fellow soldiers - including Gunner Gadsby - built a loving memorial to him in Camp Bastion. They used bricks made from Afghan earth, fashioned a wooden cross and laid handmade plaques bearing messages and poems from his friends. A sign on the monument read simply: 'The Boss'.

On their return to England, boys from Mark's platoon packed the memorial into empty ammunition tins and delivered it in person to Mrs Evison, complete with wooden cross, bricks and all. She is now considering donating it to a museum.

Since his death, the Evisons have set up the Mark Evison Foundation with the help and support of his friends. The foundation provides funding for the physical, personal and mental development of young people aged sixteen to 30 in memory of Mark's adventurous spirit.

Mrs Evison revealed that the first grant had been awarded to a group of Dulwich College students and their dog who plan to climb four mountains in four corners of the UK in four days, using only public transport. They will be making a film of their expedition.

"It is a wonderful idea and we are very pleased to be able to help them. Mark always loved mud and adventure, so it is very fitting." Mrs Evison also joined the bereaved families at a service of remembrance on Saturday, June 5, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The names of all 119 of the service men and women killed in conflict during the past year have been engraved onto the Armed Forces Memorial, which bears the names of over 16,000 people who have died in service since 1948.
www.markevisonfoundation.org

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