Tragic teen soldier ‘looking down with pride’ say parents

Tom and Carla Cuthbertson have devoted themselves to raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and raising the profile of those who have served in the military since 19-year-old Nathan died in 2008.

The couple’s achievements include the annual 60-mile (96.5km) Cuthy’s Big Bike Ride, from Catterick Garrison to their home city of Sunderland, and the Memorial Wall, which honours those who have given their lives in conflicts since 1945.

Mr and Mrs Cuthbertson are currently devoted to further developing the National Veterans’ Walk, a pathway in Sunderland featuring the names of hundreds who have served their country – both living and dead.

Mr Cuthbertson, who is an ambulance emergency technician and former paratrooper, said: “This award is for everybody that’s chipped in to the charities and helped us.

“It’s really been gifted from the people who’ve supported us over the years.” He told the PA news agency: “We’re shocked really. We weren’t expecting it at all.

“We’ve just done a lot of charity work over the years – built Memorial Walls and things. It wasn’t for any awards or anything, we just did that in memory of our son, really.”

Mr Cuthbertson said of their MBEs: “It’s a lovely, lovely gesture and such a massive honour to receive an award like that. It makes us so proud.

“I think our Nathan will be looking down on us and be really, really proud.”

Private Nathan Cuthbertson was only 19 when he was killed while on patrol with the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, in Helmand Province in June 2008.

Following the tragedy, Mr Cuthbertson, 51, set up the charity Brothers In Arms, with housing officer Mrs Cuthbertson, 48, which led to the construction of the Memorial Wall next to the existing war memorial in Sunderland.