A NEW war memorial garden will see former comrades of a Mayland soldier who was killed in Afghanistan reunited next month.

Private John Thrumble was just 21 when he was killed in action in August 2007.

Now a new memorial garden is being unveiled in the village at a special ceremony on the anniversary of Armistice Day.

The garden, in Bakersfield, will feature two First World War commemoration benches, a lone “Tommy” soldier with his rifle pointing down, a flagpole wall for plaques and a planted garden.

Councillor Andy Duncan said: “I’ve been in contact with John’s mother who I’ve taken to the garden and she is really happy with it and over the moon that soldiers that knew her son are coming on the day.”

Private Thrumble joined the British Army in 2004 and joined 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment in July 2005 after completing his training as a rifleman.

He had been serving in Helmand Province in Afghanistan since March 2007.

During that time, he had been involved in numerous, close encounters with the enemy and proved himself to be a brave soldier.

He was killed alongside two others by so-called friendly fire in southern Afghanistan.

He left behind parents Stephen and Pearl, younger brother Luke and foster brother Semicjan Dalti.

Speaking at the time, his father said: “Although John loved his family dearly, he had become attached to his second family ‘the Vikings’ and was proud to serve alongside the friends he had made on the way.

“All the family are very proud of John and what he had achieved whilst with the Vikings.”

Speaking after the tragedy, Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Carver said Private Thrumble was “one of the leading characters” in the Battalion.

He said: “Proven in combat on countless occasions, his raw courage and ability to raise a smile were invaluable in these testing times.

“He joined the ranks of his fellow fallen Vikings, but his reputation will live on and he will never be forgotten.”

The memorial garden will be opened at a ceremony on November 11 at 11am.