In freezing temperatures and under gunmetal skies, another town hushed to a solemn standstill today to bury one of its sons killed in Afghanistan.
It was the turn of the locals of Bury St Edmunds to line the streets in respect, as the cortege of Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, of 1st Battalion, Royal Anglians, inched slowly through the historic Suffolk town. Hundreds set down their last-minute Christmas shopping and stood in silence as his parents and fiancee, clasping hands tightly, their faces grimly set, walked behind the hearse. Each wore a red and yellow rose on their lapel, the regimental colours of the Royal Anglians.
L/Cpl Drane, described as a popular, quiet and dedicated soldier who loved boxing and heavy rock music, was shot and killed on 7 December while standing guard at a checkpoint in Nad-e-ali, Helmand. He got engaged in the summer, and had been in Afghanistan for less than two months when he died.
But while it was an intensely personal tragedy for his family and his community, his funeral also marked the grimmest of milestones in a wretched year for British forces in Afghanistan: the 100th casualty of an increasingly bloody war.
Even as L/Cpl Drane was being laid to rest, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that a soldier from the Parachute Regiment had been killed close to Sangin, Helmand. The soldier, who has not yet been named, is understood to have been serving with special forces and was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol with Afghan soldiers on Tuesday. With his death 106 British military lives have now been lost in Afghanistan in 2009, and a total of 243 since operations began there in 2001.
This year is now the bloodiest for Britain's armed forces since the Falklands war in 1982, prompting the Queen, it has emerged, to use her Christmas message to pay tribute to those fighting in Afghanistan.
Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary, paid tribute to the servicemen who have been killed in recent days, saying: "Every death of a UK soldier is a tragedy and the sad news that more brave men have lost their lives in Afghanistan at this time of year will understandably bring the pain of their families, friends and colleagues into sharper focus.
"But as we reflect on these losses we must at the same time strengthen our resolve to see the mission through. That is what our servicemen and women want."
Up to 500 mourners packed into St Mary's church in Bury St Edmunds, and hundreds more listening through speakers outside, heard L/Cpl Drane's family thank the community for their "kind words and overwhelming support".
"Adam will be sorely missed by all his family, friends and colleagues but his memory will live on through his fellow Vikings who are doing such a courageous and fantastic job," said a statement read on behalf of Desmond and Jacqueline Drane, the soldier's younger brother, Christopher, and his fiancee, Sian Goodenough.
"Adam died doing the job he so dearly loved and the family will always be so proud of not only him, but all his colleagues in the regiment."
Others described a kind and thoughtful young man who was dedicated to his "second family" in the regiment and "besotted" with his fiancee.
"We know this is one service you never wish to attend," Rev Michael Rogers, vicar of St Mary's, told the soldier's parents. "I hope you know how proud the people of Suffolk, indeed the people of this country, are of your son."
Please Show your support for the vikings by buying a "Support Vikings in Afghanistan" Charity Wrist Band
http://www.royalanglianassociation.co.uk/shop2/index.php?act=viewProd&pro...
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The funeral of Corporal Richard Greenby manchesternews5,042 views
we will remember them ex army
filmbuff1047 1 month ago
Not very personal
fiestyoneyouare1 2 months ago
I sang for his funeral 1:49, closest boy chorister to the audience. I feel damn proud to have sung at this occasion!
IRememberTheOldDays 6 months ago
*salute*
CrIp1391 11 months ago
@keirfree
An honour m8
skinnymason 1 year ago
Skinnymason thank you for posting !
keirfree 1 year ago
get of afghanistan. now.
searching for terrorists?
Pakistan Saudi
emalroshandel 2 years ago