| Location | Stafford |
| Age | 26 years |
| Cause of Death | In the Line of Duty |
| Date of Birth | 1982 |
| Date of Death | 2008 |
| Visitors | 1,935 since 21/08/2008 |
| Creator | |
| Helpers |
Darryl Gardiner was tragically killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan on Sunday 20 January 2008.
Darryl, a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and 52 Brigade's Reconnaissance Force, died after the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a mine strike near the town of Musa Qala.
Darryl known to his friends as "Daz", had been in Afghanistan since October and was due home on leave early February with the end of his tour in sight!
A keen skydiver and member of the Army Parachute Association, Darryl's passion was his skydiving and was looking forward to returning to take up his instructing. Darryl's ashes were scattered over his home drop zone in Wiltshire by his brother Paul and skydiving buddies in April with chinese lanterns released into the night sky.
Darryl leaves his big brother Paul, younger sister Laura and baby neice Lily who he only had one weekend with, we are all deeply proud that Darryl served his country and are proud of him for all his acheivements both as a small boy and as young man. We have 25 years of very special memories and friends with stories to tell of your antics as a child. So many of our friends have been back in contact totally shocked that you are not with us, but remember you fondly with a story that can only make us laugh but then remind us of the huge gap left behind which is sometimes too much to bear, but rest in peace now brave son/brother you are never far from us ever XX
MY SON xx
Love and miss you - this weekend was the last one you spent at home 4 years ago xxx lily asked me today 'why is Darryl in heaven' took me a few minutes to answer her - cos I couldn't without tears! She just said ' nannie don't cry he's in your bedroom in the picture xxx little lovexx Olivia said ' nannie don't cry I love you and my lily xxx ahhh
They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.x
Darling look after granny your dad would want that and so do we. Godbless always xx your ever sad mum xx
Darling you brought Paul back to us safe and sound - I know you looked after him during his time in Afghanistan but how I wish BOTH my boys were home with us as a family and enjoying the new baby due soon and of course Lily. Godbless darling, never a moment passes where we don't all want you here. Love forever mun xx
The 'Darryl' Star
Darling I have a star in the sky now and its called my 'Darryl' star - Laura and Jamie bought it for me for xmas so when we are looking into the sky I know the brightest one is you and it belongs to me so you are forever with me. You were right Laura will be third time lucky - shes having another little girl!!! So two little girls in the family.
Be good and stay close to us, love forever, mum xxxx
Love and Godbless my darling,
The days are long without you here, I've sat and cried a thousand tears,
that cruel fate did my life destroy and take away my lovely boy.
But you can wipe my tears away, you walk beside us every day.
There will be anniversaries and celebrations that you'll miss,
Oh, Darryl, how we'll miss you then, your laugh, your cheeky grin.
But you'll be there, you'll find a way, you walk beside us every day.
Sometimes I dream that I'm awake and find it's all a big mistake,
That you are here, you're safe and well, with hugs and smiles and tales to tell!
And in my mind I hear you say, "I walk beside you, every day."
The road ahead is hard and steep, with hills to climb,
life will never be as good, as when you were here beside us.
But we believe that here you stay, you walk beside us every day.
At night you gently touch my cheek and memories are mine to keep,
of my sweet son, so deeply missed, since that first day I kissed your head.
Inside my heart forever stay, and walk beside us every day.
Love Mum xxx
Hello Darling - such a sad New Year, we stayed in and just had a drink on our own. I was never going to be good company so was better indoors and being ill just made it all that much worse. Yet again there was a missed phone call, I kept thinking about our conversation last new year and will have to keep that in my memories forever xx Paul and Tracey phoned bang on midnight from Washington, they were feeling sad too. Laura and Jay called soon after although they have all been poorly. The news this December/January has been awful - those poor families having to face such a terrible time.Yet again I say time doesn't heal it makes it harder. Paul is with Laura on 20th to spend time with her as we are away.......I would be in panic all night in case the door knocked xxx I still hear the door knocking sometimes but theres never anyone there! Just Mum being mad. We are planning to do something on the 25th for your birthday and will all be together, then we will have to say bye to Paul before he goes off to Afghan - look after him daring keep him safe for us and both stay close to us - we love you dearly, until we can meet you again we have to live with our memories and what a huge amount we have xx Love you darling Mum xxxx
Happy New Year
Darling Daz, how I wish I was in the kitchen cooking for you arriving home for New Year as I did 2 years ago. I remember it all so clearly - you 3 dashing off to ikea as you had just got your flat. Then the 5 of us having a nice meal and few drink before we watched the fireworks and had some bubbly!! Last year Paul and Tracey were here as we were looking after baby Lily and playing games til Jamie and Laura appeared after their night out. Everything was normal as it should be apart from you being away. But even then on the phone when you rang we were planning your R&R and when you could fit in coming up here - there were so many people you wanted to see. As we go into 2009 I feel like I am leaving something behind and don't really want to, always know how much we miss you darling and how great the gap is here in our family. Godbless darling love Mum xxx
Christmas without you
Darling, a sad day and days to come but I know you will give me the strength to see these days through. Last year we accepted that you had to be away doing your duty and we thought - no worries we will get through cos we know we have your birthday and R&R to come and will celebrate. You chose to have your R&R late so you would only have a month to go before you would come home to Luce and then up to see us to do all the things you promised each other. My heart breaks every time I think of the things you never got to do together - I know she was the one and only love of your life, years to spend together so cruelly taken away. We supported everything you did and how proud you made us, we never got the chance to tell you xx What I would give to tell you but I hope you can hear my thoughts. Godbless my darling blue eyed baby boy I miss you so very very much. Look over Lily tomorrow and look after all those that love you dearly. Your heartbroken mum xx time doesn't heal darling its just such a long time since I HUGGED you xx
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