Cpl Joseph Etchells

A YOUNG soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan was planning to wed the girl of his dreams and mother of their baby girl.
Corporal Joseph Etchells, 22, from Mossley, died on Sunday in a blast in Sangin, in northern Helmand province.
He was serving with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and was the 186th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan.
He had joined the Army at 16 and was described as an 'outstanding soldier' and 'a born leader'. He was on his third tour of Afghanistan.
Cpl Etchells was engaged to fiancee Julie and they had a young daughter.
Before joining the Army, Cpl Etchells went to Mossley Hollins High School, where he loved sport, particularly running and wanted a career that allowed him to stay fit.
He joined his local regiment, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and completed NVQs at the Army Foundation College, in Harrogate, before completing the Infantry Training Course at Catterick.
Cpl Etchells represented the Battalion and Garrison side at cricket and was an active member of the Battalion cross country team.
He first went to Afghanistan in 2006. Promoted to corpoal last year, he was an Infantry Section Commander, responsible for eight men.
Before being posted abroad, he stood guard for the Queen outside Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace as part of the Public Duties Battalion. Lt Col Charlie Calder, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, described Cpl Etchells as ‘a remarkable young man’ who showed a gift for soldiering. He added: “His enthusiasm, determination, loyalty and professionalism would have seen him progress with ease through the ranks. “Above all he will be remembered for the friendships that he easily made, at home, in barracks or facing daily adversity in Afghanistan.”