Bellshill, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Army, CPL, The Black Watch, 3rd Btn The Royal Rgt of Scotland
10/25/2009, England, Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham, UK
Corporal Thomas Mason, known as ‘Tam’, was 27. He was born in Bellshill, Glasgow, and brought up in Rosyth, Fife. He joined the Army in February 2005 and, after completing basic training, he joined 3 SCOTS in Warminster, Wiltshire.
He deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK in 2006 before returning for a promotion course. He qualified as a Mortar Fire Controller in 2007 and was promoted to Corporal. He deployed again to Afghanistan in March 2009.
Corporal Mason was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated during an operation in Kandahar province on 15 September 2009. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, both in theatre and back in the UK, over a period of nearly six weeks, he sadly died as a result of his wounds on Sunday 25 October 2009.
Corporal Mason’s wife, Kylie Mason, paid the following tribute:
“I have thought long and hard to find the right words to describe how Tam was and what he meant to me. But there are no words in the world that would even come close to describe what a great husband Tam was. He was the most genuine and kindest man I have ever known. He was my best friend and my wonderful husband. I am distraught that this has happened and still finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that I have lost my honey.
“I am also aware what a great soldier Tam was and how passionate he was about his job. The reason he loved his job so much was he had such fantastic friends in the Army who are equally as courageous as Tam was.
“I have so many happy memories of Tam that I am finding it difficult to pick out my most memorable or joyous occasion. However If I had to select one special day it has to be the day we were married which was the best day of my life. I know that I had struck gold with him and even though I am devastated and hurt that he has been taken from me I value and greatly appreciate the time we had together and will cherish these memories forever.”
Corporal Mason’s mother, Linda Buchanan, and stepfather, Charlie Buchanan, paid the following tribute:
“Nothing can take away the pain in our hearts from losing our wonderful son. Tam was a great soldier and so proud of being in The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS). He was aware of the risks involved and before returning to Afghanistan after his last R&R, which he spent with us, he said that it would be an honor to die doing the job he loved. It is so hard to accept that Tam is not coming back and our lives will never be the same now that he is no longer here. He was the most wonderful, loving and considerate son and we are so honored to be his parents, to know him and love him.
“The day God gave out sons, He gave us the very best. “Sleep Peacefully Tam.”