Book of condolence opens for army medic

Published Sunday, 28 October 2012
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A book of condolence has opened for Co Down army medic Corporal Channing Day who died in Afghanistan.

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The book is open to the public at St Mary's Church in Corporal Day's hometown of Comber.

The church will remain open each day from 9am to 8pm to allow the public to leave tributes.

The Mayor of Ards, Alderman Hamilton Gregory, said the people of Comber wished to express their deepest sympathies to the Day family.

"Local people feel an enormous sadness at the terrible loss which the Day family have suffered and wish to show their sympathy and support for the family in a visible way," he said.

"The book of condolence allows them to do so and I hope, along with all our thoughts and prayers, this will be of some small comfort to the family as they grieve for their precious daughter."

Ashley Boviard, a childhood friend of Channing, signed the book on Sunday as she wanted to paid tribute to her friend for her bravery.

"It was a mark of respect to her and her family. She'll be remembered as the bubbly, outgoing, sporty, beautiful young woman that she was," she said.

She'll be remembered by everyone in the town.

Ashley Boviard, childhood friend

Ryan Stephen also knew Channing as a teenager and said her loss had brought the conflict very close to home for him and the whole community.

He said she would be remembered fondly by many. "She was a beautiful girl taken far too early," he added.

The 25-year-old medic, who served with 3 Medical Regiment, was fatally injured in an exchange of gunfire while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Wednesday.

Corporal David O'Connor, 27, of 40 Commando, also died in the incident.

On Saturday, Corporal Day's family described their disbelief at the loss of Channing and thanked friends and the wider community for their support.

They described Channing as a "shy", "beautiful" girl who always wanted to be in the army.

"Channing being the amazing down to earth person she was, didn't realise how beautiful she was inside and out. She was the most caring, special and supportive sister and daughter always there for us when she was needed," her sister Lauren said.

The family thanked those in Afghanistan helping to take care of Channing and they extended their sympathies to the family of her colleague Corporal O'Connor's family.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all these heroes and their families," they added.

Investigations into the cause of death of both Corporal Day and Corporal O'Connor are ongoing but an initial review has found that the killings were not caused by "friendly fire".

MOD officials are looking into the possible involvement of an Afghan man, believed to be a member of the Afghan Uniformed police, who was also found dead at the scene.

They have said they expect Channing's body to be repatriated in the coming days.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
2 Comments
Terry in Belfast wrote (198 days ago):
A sweet girl always remembered by her friends Len Johnston, Eddie Connoly and Terry Watson ( boys, & Girls' clubs NI) RIP
Lynn O'Brien in Scotland wrote (201 days ago):
RIP brave hero your sacrifice will never be forgotten xx from everyone at Support our Soldiers Scotland
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