A mural to a teenage soldier from Ipswich who made the ultimate sacrifice was unveiled outside his former school on Friday, ensuring that his legacy will never be forgotten.

Private Aaron McClure was just 19 when he died in Afghanistan in 2007. He and two other young men, Robert Foster and John Thrumble, were serving in the 7 Platoon B (Suffolk) Company when they came under intense fire from a US aircraft, which dropped a bomb on them instead of a Taliban position. 

All three lost their lives.

Now, a vibrant, technicolour mural has been unveiled in Aaron’s memory outside his former school, Westbourne Academy.

The mural depicts a field of poppies, with an image of Aaron wearing his army uniform looking down. The river Orwell runs through the field, with the silhouettes of two more soldiers paying tribute to the two other soldiers who died that day.

In attendance was Aaron’s mother, Lorraine, as well as his three younger brothers, Lewis, Ryan and Daniel, his grandmother Vi, his mother’s partner Steve, and many other family friends and members of the community.

Ipswich Star: The mural to Aaron McClure bears the message 'We Will Remember Them'. Image: Charlotte BondThe mural to Aaron McClure bears the message 'We Will Remember Them'. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Ipswich Star: Many members of Aaron's family were there on Friday to see the mural unveiled. L-R: Aaron's brother Lewis, grandmother Vi, her partner Ken, his brother Ryan, his sister-in-law Kimberly beside her husband Dan, Aaron's brother, Vi's partner Steve and family friend Frank. Image: Charlotte BondMany members of Aaron's family were there on Friday to see the mural unveiled. L-R: Aaron's brother Lewis, grandmother Vi, her partner Ken, his brother Ryan, his sister-in-law Kimberly beside her husband Dan, Aaron's brother, Vi's partner Steve and family friend Frank. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Living just a stone’s throw from the school, she will be able to see the mural every day.

“It’s just perfect,” she said. “I can open my curtains in the morning and see it, and I’ll see it again when I drive home every evening.”

The duo who created the mural, the artist Sketch and his wife Amanda, were not able to be present. However, Westbourne’s Assistant Principal Andrew Smith, who was instrumental in organising the mural, said that people had approached them many times by people who were concerned that the ‘RIP AJM’ message would be painted over.

Ipswich Star: young cadets at the mural unveiling on Friday. Image: Charlotte Bondyoung cadets at the mural unveiling on Friday. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Assistant Principal at Westbourne Academy points to the message hidden in the poppies, RIP. Image: Charlotte BondAssistant Principal at Westbourne Academy points to the message hidden in the poppies, RIP. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Councillor Alasdair Ross also spoke at the memorial service. Image: Charlotte BondCouncillor Alasdair Ross also spoke at the memorial service. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The finished mural, he said, would be a fitting tribute to Aaron’s legacy for many years to come.

One of those to speak was Councillor Alasdair Ross, who also paid tribute to the loss of Private Gary Barnes, who was killed in action in Northern Ireland in 1979.

“One small part of our town has lost two of our young men,” he said. “Where our younger generation is often criticised by many who should know better, in this small part of Ipswich, two boys volunteered and never came back.

“We shall always remember that."