Mothers whose sons died in conflict remember them through the music they loved

Songs My Son Loved is a special series of documentaries in which four bereaved mothers share the music memories of the soldier sons they have lost in conflict, as part of BBC Music Day 2017.

Here we learn more about each of the soldiers through the eyes of their mums, as told to Jeremy Vine.

Listen to Songs My Son Loved on Jeremy Vine, Monday 12th June to Thursday 15th June at 13.30 on BBC Radio 2.

Private James Prosser grew up in and around leafy Cwmbran in South Wales. He joined the army aged 20.

On 27 September 2009, aged 21, he was killed while driving his Warrior vehicle in the Musa Qaleh district of Helmand Province in Afghanistan. James was described by his Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Tom Richards, as a ‘model infantry soldier’.

"A smile that could light up any room"

At Cwmbran boating lake, sitting on the bench dedicated to her son, James's mum Sarah tells Jeremy why he chose the forces over a career that suited his passion for art.

"We were really shocked. He was all for graphic design until he had two weeks' work experience in an office. Then he said he never wanted to work in an office.

"I was gentle with trying to say, "Are you sure that's what you want?" [about joining the army]... but it is always up to your children, and you've just got to be supportive of them."

"I just knew straightaway"

Sarah was having breakfast with James's younger brother Josh early on a Sunday morning when there was a knock at the door.

"I just knew. Instead of opening the door straightaway I went into the living room and looked out of the window.

"There was a soldier stood behind the shadow of a guy in a suit, and I knew what I was opening the door to."

Private Michael Tench was described by his superiors as “an outstanding soldier”, and was one of the youngest soldiers to die in Iraq when his Warrior patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb on January 21st 2007, aged just 18.

"Where Michael was, I was, and where I was, Michael was"

Michael, affectionately known as 'Tenchy', originally wanted to be a police officer but was deterred when he got into trouble after trying to pick his mum some daffodils from a roundabout aged just six.

"He was turning seven, and [from] then it was army barmy. Totally army barmy," says his mum Jan Procter.

"I hit the floor"

When two women turned up at Jan's door four months after Michael had been sent to Iraq, she assumed it was news about her mother, who had recently been taken into hospital.

As they stood in the living room, a news bulletin came on stating that a solider had been killed by an IED blast.

"It flashed up on the TV, and I paid my respects. And then [one of the women] said, 'I'm here to tell you that that is your son'.

"I hit the floor."

Private Chris Gray was born in Leicester, but died in Afghanistan on 13 April 2007, aged 19. He was shot by a Taliban fighter just three weeks into his first tour of duty, and just eight months after he joined the Army.

"The greatest little boy, the greatest son"

Helen recalls how Chris never gave his family cause for concern when he called home from Afghanistan.

"When we were first told they were going out to Afghanistan, we were told it was for peace-keeping. Nobody seemed worried about anything.

"Chris kept quite quiet... he never spoke to us about what was going on out there, and what could happen."

The platoon patrol on the day Chris was killed was captured on head cam.

"His dad Paul has watched everything, and he said, 'You don't need to see it. If you want to know, I'll tell you'.

"The little bits I have seen are destroying."

Keeping Chris's memory alive

Ten years has now passed since Helen lost her son, and she marked the anniversary by throwing a party for him with all his friends, family and importantly, his comrades.

"I love it, I love to see the lads. They were my last link to Chris and they tried to save his life.

"It is a reminder to me that Christopher's not here and they still are, but it's like I've lost one son and gained 15 others. It's lovely. I love them."

Private Leon Spicer overcame a serious leg injury that could have ruined his career, before heading out to Al Amarah in Iraq.

He and two colleagues were killed when the Land Rover they were travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb.

Determined to serve his country

Bridie Spicer admits she always worried about her boy.

"I could never sleep at night until he came in the house and I knew he was in.

"When he said he was going to Iraq I thought, 'Oh my God'.

"He said, 'Mum, I could get killed walking down the road by a bus or car. I'd rather die for my country.' So what can you say?

"It was his dream, always, to be a solider."

"It helps me to cope"

Bridie takes comfort in a set of photos which were developed from a camera he had out in Iraq.

"It's a fantastic legacy because we have nothing else; he never got a chance to come back for rest and recuperation so this is all we've got of him while he was out there."

Every year on the anniversary of his death, Bridie writes a poem to remember Leon.

"It helps me to cope," she says.

"I loved him so much, we got on so well."

Hear more from Sarah, Jan, Helen and Bridie in Songs My Son Loved on Jeremy Vine, Monday 12th June - Thursday 15th June at 13.30 on BBC Radio 2.

The full documentaries will appear here after they have been broadcast.