Tributes paid to fallen Dorset hero (From Bournemouth Echo)

Tributes paid to fallen Dorset hero

7:00am Wednesday 11th November 2009

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DORSET was today paying its respects to its fallen Rifleman Phil Allen with an Armistice Day tribute.

His loved ones have paid emotional tributes after he was killed on Saturday by an improvised explosive device.

The 20-year-old from Verwood was a member of 2 Rifles and died only four weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.

His death was due to be mentioned as Royal British Legion members met for the two minutes’ silence at 11am at the town’s war memorial.

Friends said his mother Karen and fiancee Karina were too upset to talk ahead of a planned funeral in Wimborne.

Karina wrote on a Facebook tribute page: “Phil, my darling baby, RIP. Know that you will always be in my heart.

“God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.”

Dennis Wright, 73, a former Life Guard, chairman of Verwood Royal British Legion, said: “The legion flag is flying at half mast.

“I have noticed people have laid bouquets of flowers at the memorial. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Rifleman Allen was a keen guitarist and went to Penwithen School in Winterborne Monkton.

Before joining up, he worked at Verwood post office and staff plan to organise donations for his family.

Employee Sue Prince said: “He was fantastic. He always came with a smile on his face.

“Everyone thought he was lovely. We were all devastated.”

He previously worked as a valeter for Three Cross Motorcycles, in Three Legged Cross. Mechanic Dave Snelgrove, 33, from Studland, said: “He was a nice, friendly guy. He loved his music.

"One thing he did say was that he wanted to have stories when he was older to tell. He didn’t just want to tell people he had worked in a garage.

“Everyone was just really upset when they heard.”

“We couldn’t believe it really, even though you know something like this can happen, you never think it will be so close to home.”

Philip represented the Dorchester Army Cadets by laying a wreath himself on Remembrance Sunday in 2003.

Lyle Harmon-Beglan, who was Philip’s headteacher at Penwithen School, said: “It’s such a shock. I can still remember him cleaning his boots. He did very well when he was with us and he left on a very positive note.”

His army comrades issued a Ministry of Defence Statement packed full of warm memories.

They remembered him as grumbler affectionately known as “Victor Meldrew”, a poser whenever there was a camera about, and a football player with two left feet.

And they remembered him as a good friend, a proud and professional soldier, and a man who loved his job, his family and his fiancée.

Click here to see Phil Allen's MySpace page

See tomorrow's Echo for our heart-breaking interview with Philip's mother

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