Tributes to 'warm-hearted' Wesley who passed away aged 35

Armed forces veteran Wesley McDonnell passed away aged 35 on Sunday, January 26 with his body found at Queens Park.

Wesley, who was platoon sergeant, served in the military for nearly 20 years.

Wesley

This included in Cyprus, Germany, the Falkland Islands, Kenya, Canada, twice in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wesley, from Boundary Road, featured in the Star in 2012 when he was of 22 specially selected soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster infantry unit’s three battalions, which recruit from across the north west, to take part in a trip to South Africa and received the freedom of the city of Ladysmith.

Wesley learned more about the Boer War on the trip, which involved all the parent regiments of the Duke of Lancaster’s.

He visited Rorke’s Drift, the battle site immortalised in the 1964 Michael Caine movie.

The Freedom of Ladysmith was awarded in recognition of the sacrifice made by members of the Duke of Lancaster’s parent regiments during the defence and eventual relief of the town.

Friends and family of Wesley have paid tribute to him and are set to give him the send-off "he deserves" with a military funeral being organised.

"I would describe him as the best," a close friend said to the Star.

"He was a strong man, he was fun and had a good character. He was very warm-hearted and would do anything for everyone.

"He was one in a million."

Wesley McDonnell

They added: "Wesley was a family member, a friend, a soldier and he was loved by many people he had met throughout his army life.

"We will be doing Wesley proud by giving him a full military funeral and showing him just how much he was loved."

Details of Wesley's funeral will be announced once confirmed.