Kevin Elliott was a private in the British Army. Home on a two-week leave in 2009, he told his best friend, Barry Delaney, he was scared to go back to Afghanistan. They remembered a promise they had made to one another a few years earlier.

Their deal was, whichever of them died first—the other would wear a pink dress with green spots to the funeral. Tragically, Private Elliot was killed in action in Afghanistan eight weeks later on August 31, 2009. Delaney couldn’t locate the look he wanted, so he ended up with a lime green dress and pink socks.

“There were a few raised eyebrows, a few looks, but everyone was aware of the promise I had made Kevin,” Delaney told The Guardian. In this photo, Delaney is asking his late friend if he liked the color, ending up in tears when he realized no answer was forthcoming.

Delaney’s brother is also named Kevin, and said, quoting Guff, “Kev will always be remembered for being a really fun-loving bloke who loved a laugh. I’m sure if he was watching what was going on, he would have been having a right good chuckle to himself.”

Two Tours Of Battle

Elliot had previously fought in Iraq before going to Afghanistan.

Funeral Tribute

Black Watch welfare officer Captain Lorne Campbell said in The Daily Record, “We will not forget the sacrifice, giving his life, protecting his friends, representing his regiment and his country, and so that the people of Afghanistan might have a better future.”

And in The Guardian, Delaney said “He was such a livewire, always full of energy. Every moment with Kevin was a good time, he wanted to put a smile on everyone’s face.”