I was telling Gracie all about an Army friend we lost

Grandad’s delight at our front page

THE former soldier on the front page of the Mirror marking 100 years since the end of the First World War was pointing to the name of his fallen friend.

Peter Murcott, 49, was holding granddaughter Gracie Howard, four, as he crouched at a war memorial which included Paul Garrett on the roll of honour.

Paul, a close friend of Peter’s, was shot dead serving in Northern Ireland in 1993.

Former Royal Artillery soldier Peter, from Cannock, Staffs, visited the memorial at nearby Alrewas on Sunday.

He served from 1990 but left in 1994 after struggling to deal with losing his good pal.

“Sunday was a lovely day,” he told the Mirror. “I was actually showing my granddaughter and telling her all about my friend who was shot dead in Northern Ireland.”

Peter was pictured on the front of the Mirror next to the headline: “For your tomorrow, they gave their today.”

He said: “I was really shocked to see the picture. It’s a lovely picture of us both.”

Peter and wife Sandra yesterday picked Gracie up from school and showed teachers the paper. Sandra said: “I’m so proud. They’re going to do a show and tell.”