Tributes to Royal Marine shot dead in Afghanistan 21.09.11
13The Royal Marine shot dead after his patrol was ambushed in southern Afghanistan has been named as 24 year old Marine David Fairbrother, from 42 Commando.
Early on the morning of 19 September, Marine Fairbrother deployed as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj in support of an Afghan National Army patrol into the village of Old Khorgajat.
Just under two hours into the patrol they were engaged with small arms fire from close range and Marine Fairbrother was fatally wounded. Despite the best efforts of his colleagues to administer first aid, Marine Fairbrother died of his wounds.
Marine David Fairbrother was born on 23 February 1987 and grew up in Blackburn with his mother, Julie, and sisters, Ruth and Emily. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School where he completed three A-levels in Geography, Geology and Classical Civilisation before studying a BSc degree in Geography at Leeds University.