Firefighters rescue hero's ashes

7 July 2010, 17:25 | Updated: 7 July 2010, 17:31

Firefighters rescued the ashes and medals of the 100th British soldier to die in the Afghanistan conflict during a blaze at his family home.

Fire crews who entered the house belonging to the late Private Daniel Gamble's
parents in Uckfield also managed to salvage photographs of the
soldier.

The 22-year-old, who grew up in the town, died when a suicide bomber detonated
an explosive device in Helmand Province on June 8 2008.

The Fire & Rescue Service watch commander Bob Beard, who attended the
blaze, said: "As soon as they arrived on the scene a team of firefighters were
told by the mother that the ashes of her son were inside the property.

Thankfully, they were able to rapidly retrieve them and gave them back to the
mother.

Shortly after the ashes were recovered, we were then made aware that other
items of sentimental value remained inside the property.

Some pictures were successfully removed from the lounge and a box containing
medals was also safely removed from an upstairs bedroom.

All of the items were recovered and the mother was extremely grateful. She
thanked us on more than one occasion!''

Six fire appliances were sent to the blaze following a 999 call at 5.25pm
yesterday.

It is not yet known what caused the fire, but it is thought to have originated
in a shed and then spread to the main house.

At his funeral, Private Gamble was described as a man "who died a hero''.

He had served with 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment since October 2006 and
was killed alongside comrades Pte Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, from Sunderland, and
Pte Charles Murray, 19, from Dumfries, as he went to speak with a local
Afghani.