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| Funeral for marine killed by bomb | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The funeral for a marine who was killed when explosives hidden in a wheelbarrow were detonated has taken place in the church where he was married. | |
| Cpl Marc Birch, 26, died in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on 12 December. | Cpl Marc Birch, 26, died in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on 12 December. |
| The military funeral was held at the packed St John the Baptist church in Kingsthorpe, Northampton. | The military funeral was held at the packed St John the Baptist church in Kingsthorpe, Northampton. |
| Mourners lined the streets with many wearing red ties, football shirts, and scarves in honour of Cpl Birch's love of Liverpool Football Club. | Mourners lined the streets with many wearing red ties, football shirts, and scarves in honour of Cpl Birch's love of Liverpool Football Club. |
| 'Immensely proud' | |
| Speaking in the church, decorated with a Liverpool FC banner and a photograph of Cpl Birch, his father Darryl Birch, said: "I want to say how immensely proud as a father I am to have a son like Birchy. | |
| "From the day Marc left school all he ever wanted to do was to become a Royal Marine commando and follow in the footsteps of his uncles and friends. | |
| "Marc wore his green beret with pride." | |
| The Reverend Jane Butler, who married Cpl Birch and his wife Charlene in August, held the sermon. | |
| The coffin was carried out to You'll Never Walk Alone, and Cpl Birch was buried at Kingsthorpe Cemetery, where the 12-man firing party fired a volley at his graveside. | |
| His widow Charlene said she had "10 fantastic years" with her husband who had "died doing what he loved". | His widow Charlene said she had "10 fantastic years" with her husband who had "died doing what he loved". |
| 'Impish sense of humour' | |
| Cpl Birch, who came from Kingsthorpe, was killed with Sgt John Manuel and Marine Damian Davies. | Cpl Birch, who came from Kingsthorpe, was killed with Sgt John Manuel and Marine Damian Davies. |
| His commanding officer Lt Col Jim Morris described "Birchy" as an "outstanding Royal Marine commando and a popular and very capable leader". | His commanding officer Lt Col Jim Morris described "Birchy" as an "outstanding Royal Marine commando and a popular and very capable leader". |
| "Courageous, determined, warm-hearted and with an impish sense of humour, he demanded high standards from his men but always motivated them by personal example and commitment," said Lt Col Morris. | "Courageous, determined, warm-hearted and with an impish sense of humour, he demanded high standards from his men but always motivated them by personal example and commitment," said Lt Col Morris. |