Sunday Telegraph

A British soldier killed on active duty in Iraq last week has been hailed as a martyr by the people he fought to protect.

Men, women and children in the town where 22-year-old L/Cpl Allan Douglas was murdered on Monday have declared that the soldier should be honoured as a martyr because of the sacrifice he made.


L/Cpl Allan Douglas
It is understood to be the first time that any member of the coalition forces who has died during the war in Iraq has been hailed as a martyr.

L/Cpl Douglas, who was serving with the 1st Bn The Highlanders, was patrolling through Al Amarah, in Maysan province, when he was shot dead by a sniper outside the town's police station.

Moments after the attack, Major Gen Abu Maythem, the province's police chief, declared that L/Cpl Douglas should be declared a martyr.

"This soldier died as a martyr trying to make Al Amarah safe for all Iraqis of all religions," he said. "We are all deeply shocked and sad."

Iraqi police have pledged to catch the killers.

Defence sources believe that the reaction may be due to the pride that the Iraqis have in December's successful election. It is also thought that many Iraqis fear the effect of the withdrawal of coalition forces from the province over the next few months.

One source said that the fact that a British soldier was being treated as a martyr was an indication that the Army was starting to win the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis.



The source said: "Iraqis believe Allan died trying to give the people of Al Amarah a better life. He was trying to provide security in the town and was helping to train the local police force.

"He was fighting for their cause to give them democracy and peace. As far as the Iraqis are concerned his sacrifice makes him a martyr."

Yesterday L/Cpl Douglas's father, Walter Douglas, 54, a school caretaker, told the Sunday Telegraph that he felt no hatred towards the Iraqi people for the death of his son.

"I am not going to condemn all Iraqis just because one of them killed Allan," he said. "I have no problem with them declaring him a martyr if they want to. It is a nice gesture."

Mr Douglas added that he had received letters of condolence from Prince Philip, who is the Colonel in Chief of the Highlanders, and the Prince of Wales.

L/Cpl Douglas, who came from the Northfield area of Aberdeen, was a veteran of tours in Bosnia and Kosovo. He had been a member of the Highlanders for six years and, according to his parents, was disillusioned with the war in Iraq and intended to leave the Army.

Several British soldiers have been killed in Maysan province, one of the most dangerous areas in southern Iraq.

Within hours of L/Cpl Douglas's death, Cpl Gordon Pritchard, 31, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and a married father of three, became the 100th British soldier to die in Iraq when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Umm Qasr, in southern Iraq.

Another soldier, from the 9th/12th Lancers (Prince of Wales's), was killed in a road accident on the outskirts of Basra on Friday.

Had he been American, most of them would have been glad, or at best, indifferent.

Quoted: Had he been American, most of them would have been glad, or at best, indifferent.

And you know this how?  The UK is hated almost as much as the US is.  We're just about the same ot most.  Either liked or disliked the same.

Quoted: Had he been American, most of them would have been glad, or at best, indifferent.

An interesting claim. The British have had their own problems down South, if you hadn't noticed.

NTM

Quoted: Quoted: Had he been American, most of them would have been glad, or at best, indifferent. And you know this how?  The UK is hated almost as much as the US is.  We're just about the same ot most.  Either liked or disliked the same.

Because he believes what the libtard media is dishing out.   Most people who have been in Iraq will tell most Iraqis have no problem with us.  But there will always be a few from the old regime and terroists that will hate everyone.

He was a Scotsman... Are we suprised?

Quoted: A British soldier killed on active duty in Iraq last week has been hailed as a martyr by the people he fought to protect. Men, women and children in the town where 22-year-old L/Cpl Allan Douglas was murdered on Monday have declared that the soldier should be honoured as a martyr because of the sacrifice he made.

RIP