Lest we forget: FREAR, Michael John – Irish Guards

Surname: Frear
First Name: Michael John
Nickname: Mick
Awards:
Number: 24026572
Junior Service Location: Oswestry
Junior Service Date: 1964-66
Junior Company: Guards
Junior Rank:
Permanent Staff Location:
Permanent Staff Service Date:
Permenant Staff Coy:
Permanent Staff Rank:
Regiment: Irish Guards
Regular Service Date: -67
Retirement Rank:
Age: 18
Date of Death: 1967 April 20
Gravesite: Silent Valley, Little Aden, (Sec 4, Row B, Grave 3)
KIA/DIS: Killed In Action
Location: Aden
Armed Forces Memorial: Yes
Roll of Honour: Yes

From Graham Fowler – Mick as he was know by everyone must have been the smallest Guardsmen ever at five foot six inches high but what a powerhouse. He was a Lancaster lad and a superb rugby player and excelled at all sports .
He left IJLB in early April 1966 as he was a leapfrogger, doing just 5 terms. On joining 1st Bn Irish Guards he was almost immediately promoted to Lance Corporal. During his first operational tour in Aden in 1967, Mick was killed in action during a night ambush along with several other Irish Guardsmen. The platoon task was to ambush local dissidents, instead, a well trained unit of company strengh lead by Egyptian officers was ambushed which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. Mick was buried in Silent Valley Cemetery in Aden, as was the Army’s custom in those days.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Aden/silentvalley/mjfrear_2.jpg