Corby Falklands hero soldier's sister left 'devastated' as ashes exhumation date confirmed

A Corby Falklands War hero's ashes are to be exhumed next week and transferred to a military cemetery against his hometown family's wishes and despite nearly 15,000 people signing a petition.

Craftsman Alex Shaw, 25, who served with 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 Para), was killed in the final days of the Falklands War and had his ashes placed in a grave in Shire Lodge Cemetery.

His sister, Susan Fleming, has been fighting to keep her brother's remains in Corby and had successfully blocked a previous application to have Alex's ashes exhumed and reburied in The Falkland Islands where he was killed, however, his widow has now succeeded in having his casket moved to a military cemetery in Hampshire.

Susan said: "We would like to thank everyone for the amazing support and kind messages we have received.

"Unfortunately, even with nearly 15,000 people signing the petition it comes down to who is next-of-kin at the time of Alex's death.

"Devastated is an understatement. We have done all we can. The last two years have been horrendous but through it all I have been lucky enough to meet many of my brother's friends who have been able to share lots of great memories.

"RIP Alex, my brother, my hero, never forgotten."

Alex's ashes will be exhumed and taken 125 miles away to a cemetery in Bordon, Hampshire.

Susan and Alex's parents, Jean and Alex senior, died in 2016 and according to their wishes, their ashes were buried in Alex's grave.

⚫ His job as a Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Craftsman with 3 Para was to keep all the weapons ready for action.

⚫ 3 Para attacked Mount Longdon in the final days of the Falklands war in 1982 and held the position under constant artillery and mortar fire for two days before advancing into Port Stanley to secure the Argentine surrender.

⚫ The members of 3 Para killed in the Battle of Mount Longdon were: Stewart Laing, Phillip West, James (Doc) Murdoch, Anthony Greenwood, Stewart McLaughlin, Mark Dodsworth, Alex Shaw, Gerald Bull, Timothy Jenkins, Keith McCarthy, Peter Higgs, Neil Grose, Jason Burt, Jonathon Crow, Peter Heddicker, Ian McKay VC, David Scott, Ian Scrivens, Richard Absolon, Stephen Hope, Craig Jones and Christopher Lovett.

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