| Location | Exeter |
| Age | 28 years |
| Date of Birth | 4/1978 |
| Date of Death | 7/2006 |
| Visitors | 1,758 since 05/02/2007 |
| Creator |
my brave brother, killed in Iraq in july 2006 commanding an inner cordon of a major strike operation
to apprehend key terrorists who had killed many Iraqi civilians and both British and American
soldiers. A beautiful young man taken away far too soon. he had a huge heart and would do anything
for anyone. loved and deeply missed by all.
My brother was born in Belfast on the 12th April 1978. He is 3 years older than me. We moved from
Belfast to a little village called Ballykelly when he was 7 and i was 4 and thats when my memories
begin. Even as a very young girl i can remember my brother Johnston being my best friend. We would
spend the whole time playing, running rings around our mum, climbing trees, jumping of roofs,
playing football and war with all the other kids on the estate. He always looked after me (we would
fight all the time ourselves but if anyone else was to fight with any of us then they had both of us
to face). Johnston had taught me how to swim, first spending hours trying to show me the technique
then after running out of patients throwing me into the deep end of a pool and hoping all those
hours would pay off. He even arranged my first ever kiss for me with one of his friends. He truly
was my best friend! We went to the same primary and secondary schools and i can honestly we
weren't embarrassed by each other as many brothers and sisters are at the age of 11 and 14. it
was at that age that we moved to England. Again we went to the same school for a while until we
moved house and as he was doing his GCSE s he stayed at the school he was at. it was then that my
brother started losing his hair. he was diagnosed with aelopisha at 16 and although he found it
incredibly hard he had this amazing ability to turn things around and soon it wasn't a
problem(he was still bald but took it in his stride.) once he had left school he tried many jobs but
non of them mattered to him, thats when he decided to join the army ( at the age of 19). my dad had
died when we were both very young so my brother was the man of the house and having him leave for
the army was heartbreaking, my mum spent weeks on end crying and i joined the army cadets so we
could still have the same intrests. he loved the army ( especially his friends, he would do anything
for them and that is reflected in the way he died, he kept his men safe and sacrificed his own life)
he specialized in survillience and really thrived. he was going to be promoted again when he got
back. anyway life had moved on and i had become a single mum at the age of 18 and he was so
protective of me and my daughter, they adored each other. at the age of 6 my little girl would wait
up every weekend waiting for him to come home (my brother lived with us). she just loved him so
much. by the time my brother left for iraq i had fallen in love with a great man and was arranging
to buy a house and get married. i had finally found someone that my brother approved of. he was so
looking forward to walking me down that isle. the day my bother left for iraq i cried for hours. i
had just dropped my brother of to go to war, only days after his 28th birthday, i can still remember
holding him and telling him i loved him. he phoned every few day when he was out there, i think he
was home sick and missing everyone. the last time i spoke to him was 15th july, 9 hours before he
died. it was our younger brothers 20th birthday. that night i went to bed happy, the next morning i
was told that the guy i had spent all my life with was dead. i couldnt believe it even when we got
him home, he looked so young. mt future husband and i had just put in an offer on a house with an
extra bedroom for him. the sale went through the day after his funeral. we have his bedroon with his
stuff in it but its so empty cause it doesnt have him.
my brother now cant walk me down the isle. he would have been so proud.
I am now very, very proud of him, my big brother! i miss him so much!!!!
so to him i would like to say " i love you bro, you made me the person i am and as long as i
live you will never have died. i am so proud of you, your truly the best. sweet dreams my precious,
until we meet again, i love you! to me it will always be Johnston and Violet!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I LOVE YOU
Johnston, it will be 2 years tomorrow that you left us and i want you to know just how much i love you. I have tried putting it into words before and i just cant, there are none!!
I miss you so much, every day i wish that i could have you back, even for a minute just to hold you and tell you i love you. You have always been my hero Johnston, that cant and wont change.
Forever In My Heart and Thoughts
Your Faithful Little Sister
Violet xxxxxxxxxxxxx
John Johnston Cosby Simply The Best
You are friendly, kind and caring
Sensitive, loyal and understanding
Humorous, fun, secure and true
Always there... yes that's you.
Special, accepting, exciting and wise
Truthful and helpful, with honest blue eyes
Confiding, forgiving, cheerful and bright
Yes that's you... not one bit of spite.
You're one of a kind, different from others
Generous, charming, but not one that smothers
Optimistic, thoughtful, happy and game
But not just another... in the long chain.
Appreciative, warm and precious like gold
Our friendship won't tarnish or ever grow old
You'll always be there, I know that is true
I'll always be here... always for you.
john you truely are a hero god bless you and your loving family. my cousin is in the army he was also in iraq and is going away again soon i just hope and pray he returns safe and well all my love to your family doreen xxx
Violet,
I think you have done your brother so proud, he is a true hero in many ways. Be sure, he will be remembered. With love to you and you family John xx
British Soldier
Iraq Battle Cry
A silent army of one hundred & seventy four
now march forth across heavens floor.
Fallen souls in far off land
of blood, gore and desert sand.
Many of us have now journeyed home
blinded, maimed with shattered bone
Our cry for justice heralds loud and clear.
think of us and we will all be near
The 'fallen' wonder, did we really have to die
was it really for a tragic lie?
Heartache
If I could have one life time wish
One dream that could come true
I would pray to God with all my heart
For yesterday and for you
A thousand words can't bring you back
I know because I've tried
And neither will a million tears
I know because I've cried
You left behind many broken hearts
And happy memories too
But I never wanted memories
I only wanted you
To your resting place I go
where flowers are placed with care
But nobody knows the heartache I feel
As I turn and leave you there
I miss you with all my heart bro. Thinking of you always xxxx
Your sign
my dearest johnst,
i had been meaning to clean my computer desk and go through some paper work, i kept putting it off cause i couldn,t be arsed.
The night before our jump something told me to get off my sofa and go and do it, so i did.
i came across this plastic folder with bits and bobs in it, the first thing i pulled out of it was a letter you had written me.
I couldn't believe it , the tears roared from my eyes as i read it . I miss you so much johnst,i knew that was a sign from you letting me know that the jump would be fine, and you know what johnst it was absolutley amazing i would do it everyday if i could. i was not one bit scared, i had no nerves at all , when i landed and went with ang to get my photos i found a bright white feather on the ground that was my sign from Bill, i knew you were with me that day, and i knew geordie and my Bill were too. i love you all so very much and i miss you all like crazy. xxxx
They say that life is fleeting
I know that this is true
I left this world so quickly
With no goodbye to you.
I know how much you miss me
Your tears fall ever light
The pillow where you lay your head
Is wet with them at night.
I know your heart is hurting
The words we left, unsaid
I love you's left unspoken
Are spinning in your head.
The strength that I have carried
That served to make you whole
Remains to make you stronger
Within your grieving soul.
For you see, while you were weeping
On the day I passed away
At the gravesite near the flowers
Where my loved ones knelt to pray.
An angel came to see me
She took me by the hand
She led me to a kingdom
In a very distant land.
As I look down from the heaven
And see you standing there
Your heart so ever burdened
With more weight than it can bear.
I long to bring you comfort
I long to give you peace
I long to hold you closely
Cause all your tears to cease.
The joy I've found in heaven
Goes far beyond compare
The love that's so elusive
Can be found here everywhere.
The light is softly shining
There's no storm clouds here or rain
There's no teardrops found in heaven
There's no suffering, there's no pain.
You needn't be so troubled
Stay close to God and pray
That someday we'll be together
One bright and glorious day.
So my love, you shouldn't question
My dear you need not cry
I've gone to be with Jesus
I really didn't die.
Love you always brother
As The Sun Came Up This Morning
I Watched You There Below
Your Hearts Seemed Oh So Heavy
But There’s Something You Should Know
I’m Not Gone Don’t Worry
I’m Just A Step Ahead
And I’m With You Every Single Day
As You Rise Up From Your Bed
I Am The Sun That Warms You
I Am The Moon’s Soft Glow
I Am The Stars That Twinkle
And Light Your Path Below
So When At Times You Miss Me
Just Look For Me I’m There
For You Cannot Hide My Spirit
It Is With You Everywhere
MISSING YOU EVERYDAY
My dear brother now that you are gone
your no longer here to share
the bond we had together-
a bond of love and care.
Yet somehow something tells me
you are watching over me-
Now that from worldly cares
You are always free.
I miss you so very much,
and my tears i cannot hide
Yet' within my heart, I feel
You are always by my side
ever since you went away
life has never been the same
yet, it comforts me to know
That one day we'll meet again
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