Hundreds sign book in soldier's memory

Hundreds sign book in soldier's memory

Trooper Clarke planned to marry next year

Hundreds of people have signed a book of condolence in memory of a Stafford soldier killed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq.

Stafford Borough Council opened the book for 19-year-old David Clarke two days after his death in March and 400 have visited the town's Civic Centre to pay tribute to the soldier.

Trooper Clarke, of Littleworth, Stafford, died after his Challenger II tank was fired on by another British tank during a battle on the outskirts of Basra.

Corporal Stephen Albutt 35, from Stoke-on-Trent, was also killed in the incident.

The bodies of both men, who were in the Queen's Royal Lancers, were flown back to RAF Brise Norton on Tuesday where a repatriation ceremony was held.

A spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said the book of condolence for Trooper Clarke would remain open over Easter but would close when his funeral had taken place.

Trooper Clarke planned to marry his fiancee Rachel Furniss next year.