14. A very good friend - lost but never forgotten by Scott (aka Old Man) Bennett

I remember well the first day I met Dave. It was 2003 and we were both starting our Army basic training course, on our way to becoming sappers. Dave was selected to room with me and four others. It was quite funny, as here was this very youthful, almost baby-faced lad who was very quiet and looked rather nervous about was what coming. We were all in the same boat, our first day in the Army. 

From day one we started to get along. Some of the other lads would give him a bit of stick etc and he took it all on the chin. He never got angry or fazed by the quite tense situations that could sometimes occur when living in barracks. Even if things got touchy, I would say something to try and right the situation. After all, I was 30-odd, “the old man”, as the lads used to call me (hahaha). Anyway, I happily accepted this "tag" and, as the weeks went on, I started to get along very well with Dave and our other roomies.
 
I remember one particular night, when it was coming to lights out time for us. That is when the sergeant walks round all the rooms to check we are all in and in bed early, ready for the next day. Anyway, in comes Sergeant Brill, a big strapping, hard case sort of chap. He stands at our door and his figure casts an imposing, intimidating shadow across the room. Then he says to us: “Right lads, lights out and I don’t want to hear so much as a mouse fart!”
 
Well, we all crack up laughing, so he turns around and starts walking down the corridor, clump, clump, clump, in his heavy army boots. Then Dave jumps out of bed with a bloody camera and quickly runs to the door and takes a photo of the back of Brill walking away. Well, Dave had forgotten one thing, the bloody flash. Click goes the camera, the corridor lit up like Blackpool tower. Then we hear: “Who the bloody hell was that?” We were trying hard to conceal our laughter, which was very hard to do at the time. Brill ended up telling us all off, but he saw the lighter side of it in the end.
 
I never got to see that picture but it was such a bloody funny thing and who would have thought the quiet one of the room would take a chance like that, just to have a laugh? I will never forget that funny moment, as I will never forget Dave. He is always in my thoughts and his picture has pride of place in my home, next to pictures of my son. He is family to me and always will be. It is such a shame he was taken from us, especially from his wonderful mother Anne and family. My thoughts are always with you and your family Anne. You and your family have been so very strong and loving, and I know David loved you all with all his big heart...