| Location | London |
| Age | 24 years |
| Cause of Death | In the Line of Duty |
| Date of Birth | 25/08/1985 |
| Date of Death | 07/03/2010 |
| Visitors | 2,269 since 10/03/2010 |
| Creator |
Lance Corporal Tom Keogh from 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 7 March 2010.
Of L/Cpl Keogh, Col Kitson said: "It is typical of such a dedicated warrior that he fell whilst unhesitatingly fighting off an enemy attack with selfless commitment and determination."
Tom was a great friend, a great soldier and a true hero, he will be missed by so many people.
One of the very best laid to rest......
A BRITISH hero shot dead during a gunfight in Afghanistan was hailed today as "one of the very best of his generation" as friends, family and comrades gathered to pay their last respects.
Lance Corporal Tom Keogh, 24, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in Sangin, Helmand Province, on March 7, when his patrol base came under attack from insurgents.
Hundreds of mourners packed the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Marylebone, North London, for his funeral.
'Special' ... L/Cpl Tom KeoghPaying tribute, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Jones, Commanding Officer of 4 Rifles, said: "Lance Corporal Tom Keogh was a genuinely special young man, a quite outstanding rifleman, one of the very best of his generation and it was a privilege to serve alongside him.
"In life there are some people who are born with more talent and greater character than the rest of us. Lance Corporal Keogh was one of them.
"His natural warmth and charisma left a lasting mark on anyone he touched, irrelevant of rank. Younger riflemen were moved by his kindness and had a deep admiration for him."
Traffic was stopped and soldiers presented arms as the funeral cortege arrived at the church.
The coffin, draped in the union flag, was surrounded by flowers, which read "Tom", "Son" and "Brother".
L/Cpl Keogh leaves behind his parents, Lawrence and Marion Keogh, and two brothers, Christopher and Michael.
Family members held back tears as they entered the church behind the coffin and took their places in the front row.
Father Stephen Sharkey, Padre of 4 Rifles, said L/Cpl Keogh was a "shining example of what it is to be swift and bold".
Mourned ... comrades carry hero's coffin
He said: "All the family's hearts are broken but I also know that they are bursting with pride."
He said the soldier, who was born and bred in Paddington, West London, was happy both at home and abroad.
And he said the "exemplary" serviceman was spoken of as a "legend" even before his death.
L/Cpl Keogh joined the Army in 2003 and served until 2008, including a tour in Iraq. He rejoined after a year's break in 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan.
Lt Col Jones described how he was desperate to serve in Afghanistan after an injury in pre-deployment training prevented him going out with his own Reconnaissance Platoon.
Lt Col Jones said: "He said that he wanted to prove himself but the reality was that he had already proved himself to everyone, except himself."
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He said he had died firing upon the enemy and added: "His star shone exceptionally brightly and, as so often, he proves once again the sad adage that it is the best that die young."
Colour Serjeant Kevin Gahgan, second in command of Recce Platoon, 4 Rifles, told the congregation L/Cpl Keogh had "an infectious appetite for soldiering" and was "totally committed in succeeding in any task that he faced".
The 33-year-old, from Warrington, joked: "Tom only ever had a few gripes with the Army, one of which was the cost of living in class 1 accommodation, so to make sure he got what he paid for he would leave his television and stereo on all day whilst he was at work and then at the end of the day turn it off and read a book in silence."
After the ceremony the cortege moved to the West London Crematorium for a private burial
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2907537/One-of-the-very-best-laid-to-rest.html#ixzz0jTBwcjzS
A Brave Soldier Sadly lost
Tom,
We knew you when you were young as we were friends with your parents Lawrence and Marion.
We have pictures of you at our sproggs party.How Time files and how soon you were taken away.
Rest in peace brave soldier you will be truly missed by your family and comrades in arms.
"They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them"
Paul, Maxine, Ian,Gemma and Mark Cunningham
BATTLE GROUP
The Battle Group again is in action
Three Rifles they were on the line
Protecting all of the Afghan people
At Patrol Base Bariolai this time
This in Sangin, Helmand Province
Where another brave Rifleman fell
Lance Corporal Tom Keogh down
His proud brave family go and tell
From Paddington this hero came
This proud young soldier only 25
Came to help the Afghan people
Gain their freedom and stay alive
During a small arms engagement
Wounded, this brave Rifleman fell
Who was so bravely doing his duty
His proud name the world do tell
Tell of another proud British Hero
For others his life he did gladly give
So young children in a foreign land
With a better future they can live
So when someone mentions the 'Rifles'
Speak Tom Keoghs name with pride
He now sleeps with our fallen heroes
Those who for others fought and died
Stuart Bailey. 10.03.10.
A poppy grows in a field surrounded by the rest
all stand proud ,all glow red ,all have stood the test
they represent the fallen ones, that gave there lives for us
carried out in battle fields without a hint of fuss
But theres a new one now that stands so proud
its red ness glows so deep
its for our hero Tom a brave brave lad
who s now in rest ful sleep
Taken from us oh so young
taken from us cruel
but remember him with a smile not tears
cos thats how he,ll remember you all
god bless ya mate
Rob
We will remember....
Words unspoken, words unread!
Forgotten souls beneath the trees,
Entombed in mud and fallen leaves.
No more voices, no more pain,
Times of conflict gone again.
Soldiers left among the sands,
In fields and mountains of foreign lands.
Words unspoken, words unread,
Their authors left among the dead.
Men of courage, men of guile,
You lived your lives just a little while.
It's time to sleep and rest my friend,
Our gratitude will never end.
"REST IN PEACE
my nephew tom
he was a funny,bright,kind and loving young man with a bright future, he was taken from us too soon but lived life to the full and fitted so much into the 24 years he was with us. a brave soldier who gave his life doing a job he believed in for a country he loved and will be sorely missed by all that knew him. R.I.P TOM LEST WE FORGET X
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There have been 49 candles lit for Tom.
