Up-to-the-minute perspectives on defence, security and peace issues from and for policy makers and opinion leaders. |
Lance Sergeant Dale Alanzo McCallum was born in Hanover, Jamaica. He was 31 years old, was a father to Kevin, a son to Lurline and Paul and a brother to Sandra, Rodney, Denise, Milissa and Montel.
He enlisted in the Army in June 1998 and, having completed his infantry training at Pirbright and Catterick, joined 1st Battalion Irish Guards in Germany in March 1999.
Lance Sergeant McCallum quickly gained a reputation for being an immensely strong, fit and robust individual.
He deployed to Kosovo in 1999 and then to Iraq in 2003 with 1st Battalion Irish Guards Battlegroup. His huge potential was quickly identified and he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in September 2002, having successfully passed a Junior Non Commissioned Officer's Cadre.
When the Scots Guards replaced the Irish Guards, as the in-role Armoured Infantry Battalion, Lance Sergeant McCallum chose to remain behind in Germany as part of the Armoured Infantry Manning Increment.
He remained in the Recce Platoon and subsequently deployed on Op TELIC 5 and 11. He passed the Section Commander's Battle Course and he was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant in July 2006. Lance Sergeant McCallum excelled on every course that he attended.
Having spent six years with the Scots Guards, Lance Sergeant McCallum completed his transfer to the Scots Guards on a permanent basis in September 2009.
At the time of his death he had been selected for promotion to Sergeant and was due to be promoted on 1st October 2010. He was already performing the duties of a Platoon Sergeant with the Fire Support Group.
He loved this role and thrived on the responsibility he held, especially his responsibility to his men. The Fire Support Group had spent the previous four months increasing the level of security for the people of Loy Adera.
En Ferus Hostis
Lance Sergeant McCallum's family paid the following tribute:
"Dale was a wonderful father, brilliant brother a loving son. He was cherished and highly respected by everyone that knew him. He will be deeply and sadly missed. We all loved Dale for his easy going attitude and his sunshine smile, for his mannerisms and his charm.
"Dale was passionate about life and displayed immense enthusiasm for every challenge he took on. We all love and will miss him dearly and may his soul rest in peace."
Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp MC, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"Lance Sergeant Dale McCallum was a consummate soldier. A veteran of operational tours in Kosovo, and three tours of Iraq, he was a reconnaissance Section Commander and here in Afghanistan, the Platoon Sergeant of a 27-man Fire Support Group.
"He was blessed with the most awesome physique. Ten days before he was killed, I spent the night in his immaculately kept Check Point.
"While the rest of us sat around eating and chatting after a long, hot day on patrol, Lance Sergeant McCallum a few feet away spent half an hour lifting the most enormous weights I have ever seen.
"One of his Guardsmen whispered to me, 'It's not natural, Sir. Even his muscles have muscles'.
"Lance Sergeant McCallum had cornered the market in 'Tall, dark and handsome'.
"He was a wicked man to go drinking with, despite the fact he never touched a drop, and was always up for fun which usually ending up with him taking his shirt off on the dance floor.
"At work, though, he was quiet. I never once heard him raise his voice or lose his temper. He had control. He was also a gentleman.
"The whole Battalion has been struck by his loss and we send our sincerest and deepest condolences to his son Kevin, Kevin's mother Edith, Dale's mother Lurline Watson, father Paul McCallum, step-father Errol Watson, and all his wider family and friends.
"Lance Sergeant McCallum died when his checkpoint came under fire from insurgents. He did what he has done a hundred times before. He grabbed his rifle and headed for high ground.
"We miss him and we honour our fallen."
Major Rupert Kitching, Officer Commanding Left Flank, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"With the tragic death of Lance Sergeant Dale McCallum we have lost a true friend, an exceptional soldier and one of life's true characters.
"Our deep sense of loss must be incomparable to that of his family and the hearts, thoughts and prayers of every man in Left Flank are with them, his loved ones and friends at this most difficult of times.
"Dale had been appointed the Platoon Sergeant of the Fire Support Group and had been selected for promotion in September.
"He was multi-talented and worked tirelessly to ensure all his considerable abilities could be put to best use simultaneously.
"Dale was one in a million and his boots will be exceptionally hard to fill. He was a phenomenal soldier with considerable experience from his time in both the Irish and the Scots Guards, having spent much of his career deployed on operations.
"He revelled in the challenge of Afghanistan and had moulded his multiple into a formidable force that has enjoyed considerable success on the tour to date.
"He had already proved to be a formidable Platoon Sergeant at such an early stage with considerable potential; he has been taken from us in his prime.
"Dale was a Man-mountain; physically the strongest and most robust man I have ever met but with a true heart, caring deeply for his men. Nothing was too much trouble for him and his deep seated sense of loyalty, professionalism and commitment was praiseworthy.
"He was always there with a supportive word, witty comment and cheeky grin. Even when amongst the thick of it there would be a wry smile to provide encouragement.
"He threw himself into everything with unparalleled enthusiasm whether on operations, at home or on the dance floor.
"I first met Dale on the Battalion's arrival in Germany when he was a member of the Irish Guards Armoured Infantry Manning Increment and had the honour and pleasure of having him as my Scimitar driver in the Scots Guards Recce Platoon.
"On a personal level I feel privileged and very lucky to have had him as one of my team for so many years and as a friend.
"Dale will be truly missed and our hearts are heavy but more committed than ever to undertake endeavours that he so passionately believed in.
"My thoughts and those of Left Flank are with his family in England and Jamaica and especially with his partner Edith and their son Kevin in Germany.
"His sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Captain Guy Anderson, Adjutant, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"I had the honour of serving alongside Lance Sergeant Dale McCallum for a number of years in Support Company. He was a team player and the team loved him.
"Whether it was in the field or on the dance floor, it mattered not, he was quietly and ruthlessly effective. He excelled in everything that he did.
"He failed once but I fear that this was an impossible task as it was when he spent a long evening trying to teach me to dance in Münster, Germany.
"Always upbeat and looking to grasp the next opportunity that life would throw his way, Dale had that ability to make everything look so easy.
"If he did ever find himself in a tricky spot then his charm, smile and wicked sense humour would see him right.
"He leaves behind a huge hole in the lives of his family and many friends but nowhere will it be more keenly felt than with his young son, Kevin, and his immediate family.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin and Dale's family at this most difficult of times."
Lieutenant Ivar Milligan, Platoon Commander, Left Flank, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"I will remember Lance Sergeant McCallum with great fondness. We shared a small Check Point on the Helmand River which he ran with efficiency and style.
"He was the first up in the morning and last to bed, had a permanent smile and a cutting humour.
"His time in Afghanistan will be remembered for his inexhaustible patrolling and enthusiasm, meals out of nothing and an unparalleled dedication to our makeshift gym.
"He will be sorely missed but he has set the standard to which we should all aspire.
"Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones in Jamaica, Germany and the UK and we hope to do him proud with the rest of our deployment."
Warrior Sergeant Major Dave Brettle, Left Flank, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, said:
"I have had the honour and privilege to have known Dale for all of his Army career, from day one, when he joined the Irish Guards.
"Dale was always the one with a smile on his face, even under the most ardent circumstances. He was an excellent soldier, and a very good friend.
"He excelled in everything he did and will be sorely missed by everyone.
"I pass on my condolences to his family and friends on behalf of myself and all Irish Guardsmen currently serving with the Scots Guards in Afghanistan. God Bless, Dale. Quis Separabit."
Sergeant Tony Gibson, 11 Platoon Sergeant, Left Flank, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"Lance Sergeant Dale McCallum, the man with the infectious smile brightened up any situation, ever professional and ever patient: a gentle giant.
"The model professional who always strived to better himself and his boys, reflected in his considerable work with the Fire Support Group out here on operations.
"Such a great and true friend to so many and of a rock of support to myself; we have lost a bright star, he will be greatly missed."
Sergeant Lee Paxton, 12 Platoon Sergeant, Left Flank, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, said:
"I first met Dale McCallum on the pre course for Platoon Sergeant's Battle Course in June 2008; I had known he had been in the Battalion for some years but I'd never really met him.
"As soon as you met Dale you liked him as he was one of those guys that you just got on with.
"Dale was a non-drinker; I was always told never to trust a non-drinker but Dale was one of those that you could trust with anything. There has been many a night that Dale has brought me home in his car.
"Dale loved his young boy Kevin who lived with his mother Edith in Germany; Dale would carry pictures of Kevin in his wallet everywhere he went.
"He would always buy Kevin presents from whatever part of the world he had been in and take them to Germany for his son.
"Dale will leave a huge gap in the lives of everybody he ever met. He was loved by all.
"He will be deeply missed by everyone in the Battalion our thoughts and prayers go out to his son Kevin and family."
In the service of our country. |
Cookies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Defence Viewpoints website. However, if you would like to, you can modify your browser so that it notifies you when cookies are sent to it or you can refuse cookies altogether. You can also delete cookies that have already been set. You may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of desktop browsers. Please note that you will lose some features and functionality on this website if you choose to disable cookies. For example, you may not be able to link into our Twitter feed, which gives up to the minute perspectives on defence and security matters.