A SOLDIER shot dead by a Taliban gunman wrote a poignant eulogy which he asked to be read at his funeral.

In his moving piece, Private Jason Rawstron said that he realised the ‘reality and true meaning of life’ while he was fighting in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

His mum Mandy Rawstron, 44, of Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors, only discovered the notebook with Jason’s tribute to life and the people he loved after he was buried.

Following the funeral the 23-year-old’s personal belongings were returned to her by the Army.

And Mandy, who was touched by the words, asked vicar, Reverend John Tranter of All Saints Church, Clayton-le-Moors, if he would read his eulogy at tomorrow’s Rememb-rance Day service.

Private Rawstron starts: ‘With my mind body and soul as one knows, the nature of the beast will distract me.

He goes on to say, ‘I, my love, I will succeed from my heart.

“The Lord my love to my family, friends and comrades, thank you.

‘Thank you for the pleasure of living in your lives. Lots of love with all my being. Jason Lee Rawstron x’ He adds: “When I wrote this I did not know the extent of reality of the true meaning of life but now I do.”

Pte Rawstron, who was part of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, had been looking forward to coming home on October 17 after a tour of the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

He died instantly when he was shot in the head on September 12 during a routine patrol.

Rev Tranter has asked if Mandy will lay the last wreath of the service.

She has asked that Jason’s great, great grandfather Private Dennis Whelan whose photo was found in Jason’s personal belongings be remembered alongside her son.

Mandy said: “The Army found it in his stuff and I was told there was something that I should read.

“It is about life and thanking everyone.

“It is like he realised what life means while he was in Afghanistan.

“The vicar will read it on Sunday and I hope it will help people understand what we are going through.”