By Ted JeoryTHE father of an Essex soldier killed in Kosovo has told how a memorial in his son's name will help his family's life return to normal.Trooper Adam Slater, 24, from Felsted, was serving with the 9th/ 12th Royal Lancers Prince of Wales as part of the Kfor peacekeeping force in Kosovo two years ago when he killed after his Scimitar armoured car hit an anti-tank mine.
By Ted Jeory
THE father of an Essex soldier killed in Kosovo has told how a memorial in his son's name will help his family's life return to normal.
Trooper Adam Slater, 24, from Felsted, was serving with the 9th/ 12th Royal Lancers Prince of Wales as part of the Kfor peacekeeping force in Kosovo two years ago when he killed after his Scimitar armoured car hit an anti-tank mine.
His name has now been added to Felsted's war memorial and at just after 4pm tomorrow, two years to the day of his death and to the sound of the Last Post, an Army captain will unveil the inscription, Kosovo 2001 A E Slater.
Ten of Tpr Slater's former colleagues - currently on stand-by in Germany for deployment in the Iraq war - will form part of a procession of 40 friends and relatives from the Memorial Hall to the dedication at the Braintree Road memorial.
Tpr Slater's name has been added on a new plaque above the 55 soldiers from the village who died in the First World War and the 12 who were killed in the Second World War.
His father, Terry Slater, said he, his wife Jean and their elder son Julian, 31, were honoured by the tribute to their son.
“The day will be tinged with sadness, but in a poignant way, we're looking forward to it,” he added.
“The memorial is near the village shop, so we'll pass it every day now and no doubt look at it with more interest.
“Life has not been too good in the last couple of years. We'd only lived in the village three or four months when Adam died and that slowed our integration into the village life somewhat.
“Life was a bit tough, but it does get easier as time goes on. It will be a little bit trying on Sunday, but it will help us get back to normal again. We're going to be determined about it.”
Mr Slater also thanked the local branch of the Royal British Legion for organising tomorrow's service.
ted.jeory@eadt.co.uk
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