THE parents of an East Yorkshire soldier killed in Afghanistan have told how they will do their best to celebrate Christmas without him for the sake of their other children.
Private Gregg Stone, 20, died while rescuing an Afghan police chief from the Taliban in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province in June.
His father, Bob Stone, of Atwick, near Hornsea, said: "Gregg loved Christmas.
"He would get up ridiculously early and wake up the whole house, saying 'He's been!' That wasn't long ago, either.
"We will not be spending time at home on Christmas Day as it will hurt and remind us of happy times with Gregg.
"We will do our best to celebrate it, but it is going to very hard for us all this year."
Instead, Bob and his wife, Angie, 56, will spend Christmas Day with their youngest daughter Rosie-Ann, 19, at her home in Bridlington.
"We will be staying with Rosie-Ann and visit our other children over the festive period," he said.
Bob and Angie have four other children, Kallum, 18, Jamie, 31, Graeme, 30, and Jennie, 27.
As previously reported in the Mail, Kallum is set to follow in his brother's footsteps and join the Army.
Bob said: "Kallum is going through the recruitment process at the moment. It means everything to him."
Kallum has said he wants to join his son's old unit, 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (3 Yorks).
Bob said: "It would mean the absolute world to him if he could join Gregg's unit, especially so if got to join Burma Company. That would be very special."
Earlier this month, following a service of remembrance in York for eight soldiers from 3 Yorks killed in Afghanistan, Kallum joined his brother's friends on a night out.
"Kallum loved meeting his brother's friends," said Bob. "None of them could believe how similar Kallum looks to Gregg."
It is unlikely Kallum will serve in Afghanistan, due to Britain's commitment to withdraw all combat troops from the war zone by the end of 2014.
Meanwhile, Kallum and his brothers and sisters have received so-called "siblings' medals" and Burma Company jackets from 3 Yorks.
Mr Stone said: "Siblings of servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan are now given a medal in recognition of their loss.
"It's similar to Gregg's Afghanistan campaign medal.
"It means a lot to them all, but especially the girls."
Kallum said: "It's nice to get the recognition, but we did not do anything to deserve a medal – Gregg did.
"For me, the Burma Company jacket means a lot more.
"That was Gregg's unit and the jacket meant something to him."
Private Stone, a past pupil of Hornsea School, had been on his first tour of duty when he was killed. He was latest of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.
