The Rifles
Roll of Honour



Serjeant Stuart McGrath
2nd Battalion The Rifles

16th September 2009

 

Serjeant Stuart McGrath, aged 28, was born in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, on 5 December 1980. He began his Army training in October 1999 and joined 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets in June the following year (The Royal Green Jackets was one of five infantry regiments which combined to form The Rifles in 2007). 

He made an early start to junior leadership, completing a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (JNCO) cadre in November 2001. From an early stage he specialised in mortaring, completing both standard and advanced mortar courses with excellent results in 2004 and 2005. From the beginning he stood out as a fiercely bright and determined individual. Not being satisfied with the standard career path for a Mortarman, he put himself forward to attend the Platoon Serjeants' Battle Course following his tour in Afghanistan; he wanted to push himself into the most demanding roles the Army had to offer.

An intensely energetic and fit Rifleman, Serjeant McGrath led a team from the battalion to complete the Dublin Marathon in November 2008. Younger than all the others in his role, he had endless potential.

He died in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on 16 September 2009 near Forward Operating Base (FOB) Keenan.

Serjeant McGrath leaves his wife, Emma, three sons, Ryan, Daniel, and Dylan, and his daughter, Niamh, born in June whilst he was already deployed to Afghanistan.

To read the various tributes left by others please click anywhere on this line.