A QUEEN’S medal honouring Wimborne hero Andrew Howarth’s sacrifice has been presented to his grieving mother and father.

In a special ceremony at Wimborne Town Hall, where the Union flag has been flying at half-mast since the news of the 20-year-old Trooper’s death broke, Sarah and John Howarth accepted the Elizabeth Cross as a mark of their son’s bravery.

Close family friends, Andrew’s godparents and members of his Queen’s Royal Lancers regiment gathered on Thursday to watch Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Dorset, Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers, bestow the honour upon the family.

Just hours later, Andrew’s body was driven back to Wimborne – pausing along Leigh Road as it passed close to his family home.

The Lord Lieutenant said: “Andrew was a loving son and a brave soldier with a great future ahead of him.

“He was considered outstanding in his work of driving military vehicles. In all, he was a man enough for any family to be proud of.

“But as a third generation of the family to serve, they must feel this even more.

“He was a true son of the regiment.”

A mark of the family’s military background was the presence of Andrew’s Colonel Andrew Hughes, who also served with his father.

Handing the Elizabeth Cross, launched in 2009, to Andrew’s mother Sarah, the Lord Lieutenant added: “This recognises the unique challenge our men face on operations and the burden of that on their loved ones.

“Today we all share the burden of the Howarths’ loss.”

As he accepted the Elizabeth Cross memorial scroll, Andrew’s father John thanked guests including Wimborne Town councillors and Wimborne Royal British Legion members for coming.

He said: “It is a proud moment and also a sad moment.

“But I am proud of it because he died doing what he wanted to do.”

A full military funeral, led by Reverend Canon John Holbrook and Army Padre Kevin White, will be held at Wimborne Minster Church on Wednesday at 1pm.