Tragic Para's mother tells of pride and sorrow at honour

Published on Sunday 7 March 2010 21:58

THE mother of a Scottish soldier killed in Afghanistan has been presented with the Elizabeth Cross to mark his sacrifice.

Jem Wright's son, Corporal Mark Wright, 27, from Edinburgh, was killed in Helmand Province in September 2006 trying to save a comrade who was wounded when a landmine exploded.

Cpl Wright, who was with the Parachute Regiment, was posthumously awarded the George Cross, one of Britain's highest military awards, in recognition of his actions when his patrol encountered the mine.

Following his death, Mrs Wright and her husband Bob set up the Mark Wright Centre in Dalkeith to provide counselling services and a social centre for troops, particularly those suffering emotional problems on their return from combat.

Last night Mrs Wright was presented with the award, along with a scroll signed by the Queen, by Major General David Shaw at the annual fundraising ball of the UK Reserve Forces Association at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

She spoke of the mixed feelings the occasion stirred: "I was feeling so proud. It was all very nice but also very sad.

"The reason I was getting the Elizabeth Cross was because Mark lost his life. It was really lovely to get it and it's a recognition of Mark, which is wonderful, but it still doesn't change what happened."

Mr Wright added: "A chap phoned up and said they do a ball and they'd like to do it for the Mark Wright Project. I thought (the medal] was maybe just a kind of badge, but there's a big one, about an inch in size and there's a smaller one."

One of the ball's organisers, Group Captain Bob Kemp, said: "We felt it was very appropriate to choose the Mark Wright Project. His family have done an awful lot to publicise the needs of troops."

The proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the charity set up in Mark's name.

Royal Scots Colonel Martin Gibson, a former chief of staff of the army in Scotland, said: "The presentation acknowledges the extremely brave efforts made by Mark Wright to help his fellow soldiers.

"Jem was determined to do something in memory of Mark. The initiative to set up the drop-in centre demonstrates the Wrights' determination to help other young men and women who have been injured or wounded in operations."

Last August, the UK's first army rehabilitation centre for injured troops was named after Cpl Wright. The 12-bed centre in Edinburgh, named Mark Wright House, was officially opened by Lance Corporal Robert Reid of the Royal Scots Borderers, himself blinded in one eye in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2008.

The Elizabeth Cross, which was inaugurated by the Queen last July, is given to the next of kin of servicemen and women killed in operations or as a result of terrorism since 1945. About 8,000 families are eligible for the award.