Unlawful Killing Verdict on VC Soldier 01.08.13
21A soldier who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after he died trying to rescue his comrades was unlawfully killed, a coroner ruled today.
Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 23, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was fatally injured by his own grenade after he was hit by a Taliban bullet just as he went to throw the explosive device into a compound in June last year.
At LCpl Ashworth's inquest today Anne Pember, the Northamptonshire Coroner, said a post mortem had revealed cause of death as blast injuries caused by an explosion and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while he was serving on operations in Afghanistan.
LCpl Ashworth died after crawling along being peppered with bullets to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.
Speaking after the inquest in Kettering, his mother Kerry said her son, only the second soldier to be awarded a VC for bravery in Afghanistan, had died doing the job he loved.
She said: "His smile can light up any room he goes into and we all love and miss him so.
"James passed away doing a job he loved. At times it was a hard job but he did get to experience new countries, learn new skills and make some wonderful friends.
"James will be forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers and we will never get over his passing. But we will stay strong together as a family and along with his friends we will remain positive and celebrate his life at every opportunity as I know that is what he would want us to do."
His commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel James Bowder said he was "the bravest of soldiers, the best of men".
As well as the VC, LCpl Ashworth has had a square named after him in his home town of Corby.