Sad farewell to an inspirational leader
THE death of an “exceptionally talented” Welsh guardsman killed last month in Afghanistan was “an enormous loss” to the battalion, a fellow colleague said yesterday.
Major Dai Bevan of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was speaking after the service for Major Sean Birchall, 33, who died in an explosion in central Helmand Province on June 19.
He said: “Major Birchall was an utter professional in everything he did and he was an exceptionally passionate commander.”
He was in charge of “a very complex company” and it was down to “his inspirational leadership” that his men bonded so quickly.
His tribute followed a Roman Catholic funeral service at the Guards Chapel in London’s Wellington Barracks.