THE parents of a Barrow soldier killed in Afghanistan have called on his hometown to come out in force at an event to pay tribute to those fighting for our country.

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment will exercise its freedom of the Borough of Barrow during a parade next Tuesday from the army recruitment centre in Holker Street to the town hall.

Soldiers will march proudly through the town and army bosses are hoping members of the public will come out in force to match the crowds of hundreds seen at a similar event held in Blackburn earlier this month. Next Tuesday's parade will start from the army reserve centre at 11am.

READ MORE: Army bosses call on Barrow to show their support to soldiers

In an interview with the Evening Mail, David and Jenny Shaw, whose 23-year-old son David died after being shot in Afghanistan, have called on Barrow to pay tribute to the serving soldiers.

"We will never forget how the people of Barrow came out in force for our David's funeral and showed their support," Mr Shaw said.

"Any one of those lads parading through Barrow next Tuesday could have been killed like him, they could have been from Barrow too.

"It would be great for the people of Barrow to show their support. All those lads joined the army knowing full well the job they may be asked to do. They found themselves in Afghanistan, like David, being shot at fairly regularly, doing things that we couldn't even imagine."

Mr and Mrs Shaw, of Flass Meadows, have been invited to attend the parade, which will travel from Holker Street into Abbey Road and then up Dalton Road before halting at the town hall. They said David "could not have been prouder" to join his comrades in marching through his hometown, if he was still alive.

When asked what they hoped to see next Tuesday, Mrs Shaw said: "Crowds of people."

Mr Shaw added: "That's the least these brave lads deserve. They've been putting themselves in harm's way for us.

"Whatever the reasons for military action, at the end of the day they are defending our country and our way of life and at any moment any one of them could be in the same position our David found himself in."

READ MORE: Family of Barrow war hero join the Queen at special service


David Shaw's name on the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire In a bid to encourage the public to show their support for the event, Mr and Mrs Shaw, who have one other son and two daughters, have released a series of family photos showing David as a toddler.

"He always wanted to be in the army," Mrs Shaw said.

"He was immensely proud to be in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and serve his Queen and country. Those soldiers marching through Barrow next week were all little boys once, just like our David."

The Shaws are next month set to travel to Rouen in France on what will be the 100th anniversary of the death of Mrs Shaw's great uncle Charlie Morris, who died during the First World War. They both believe it is important to pay tribute to all soldiers - and to thank those who risk their lives every day for their country.

"It would be the greatest mark of respect Barrow could give to those soldiers by lining the streets and waving their flags," Mr Shaw added.


KINGSMAN SHAW: Serving his country

David Robert Shaw joined the army in 2008 after swearing his Oath of Allegiance at the Army Reserve Centre in Holker Street.

The former St Bernard's School pupil was posted to the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment after completing his training in Catterick.

He became a fully-fledged infantryman at the age of 19 and was deployed to the British Army Training Unit, in Suffield, Canada, in the summer of 2009 where he was employed as a rifleman.

After a first deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, Kgn Shaw returned to Helmand in October in 2012 as a qualified sharpshooter.

He was shot when his checkpoint came under attack from insurgents in the Lashkar Gah District of Helmand Province on Monday, January 14, 2013.

He was flown to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham later that day but died on January 16 aged 23.

Shortly after he lost his life, his parents allowed his organs to be donated, saving the lives of four patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

THE ROUTE OF NEXT TUESDAY'S PARADE

The parade will form up outside the Holker Street Army Recruitment Centre.

Starting from the Holker Street Army Reserve Centre at 11am, the parade will follow Holker Street, turning right onto Abbey Road, left onto Dalton Road all the way to Schneider Square,
The Army Reserve Centre in Holker Street. Picture: Google Maps. round the roundabout to Town Square where the Mayor, Cllr Anita Ward and Colonel Ray Hughes will take the salute.

The Parade will halt in the Town Hall car park at 11.15am where the two guards will be inspected by the Mayor. The inspection will be followed by a short church service, speeches and presentations.

The public can observe these proceedings from three sides and may be invited to join in the service.