A TEN-YEAR mission to honour those who have given their lives fighting for their country has finally been realised by David Godfrey after he added the final touches to the memorial garden he masterminded.

David Godfrey

Speaking after adding the final touches to the memorial garden he masterminded, the Cullompton resident – who set up the charity Operation Braveheart after his grandson Daniel Coffey was fatally wounded in Iraq in 2007 – said: “This is the culmination of many years of fundraising and hard work.

Daniel is the driving force that kept me going for all these years. It’s wonderful to finally see the memorial garden finished, providing a place where visitors can stop for a moment, reflect, and remember those who lost their lives serving their country.  This garden is for the families of every single Serviceman and woman.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has helped with this project, from those who raised money, to others who have got their hands dirty and built the actual gardens.

“The woodchip, donated by Forest Fuels, really is the finishing touch giving a uniform look across the gardens, keeping the soil fertile, and ensuring that maintenance is kept to a minimum. I’d like to thank Forest Fuels for their generosity.”

Military honours

Daniel, of the Second Battalion The Rifles, was protecting fellow soldiers from an ambush by gunmen in Basra when he lost his life. He was buried with full military honours in Cullompton.

Soon after this, David started Operation Braveheart to raise money for injured Service personnel and their families, with the additional aim of providing a memorial garden in Daniel’s home town.

The main garden site – which was built predominantly by the Commando Engineering regiment from Chivenor in North Devon – is in the central area of the car park next to the Hayridge Library and Learning Centre.

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