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| Soldiers' cortege passes through | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The funeral cortege carrying the bodies of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan has passed through the town of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. | |
| Thousands of people gathered in the town met the hearses in silence while a single bell tolled as they passed by. | |
| Mourners threw bouquets of flowers and crying could be heard from the crowd. | |
| L/Cpl Daniel Cooper, 21, of Hereford, and Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, from Folkestone, were killed in two separate explosions in Helmand Province. | L/Cpl Daniel Cooper, 21, of Hereford, and Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, from Folkestone, were killed in two separate explosions in Helmand Province. |
| The men's bodies were flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire earlier. Their deaths bring the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 251. | |
| L/Cpl Cooper, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was killed on 24 January as he tried to clear a path south of the Sangin district in northern Helmand. | L/Cpl Cooper, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was killed on 24 January as he tried to clear a path south of the Sangin district in northern Helmand. |
| His death came two days after Rifleman Peter Aldridge, of A Company 4 Rifles, was killed. He died on 22 January while on foot patrol with 3 Rifles Battle Group, also near Sangin. | |
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| Rifleman Aldridge's parents, from Kent, spoke of their pride for their son - who was on his first tour of duty - saying he "died a hero". | Rifleman Aldridge's parents, from Kent, spoke of their pride for their son - who was on his first tour of duty - saying he "died a hero". |
| "Peter said, 'If I'm going to die, I want to die a soldier.' | "Peter said, 'If I'm going to die, I want to die a soldier.' |
| "He believed in the Army and was proud of his job and we are so proud of you Peter," they said in a statement. | "He believed in the Army and was proud of his job and we are so proud of you Peter," they said in a statement. |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Jones, said he was a "natural leader" in his platoon. | His commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Jones, said he was a "natural leader" in his platoon. |
| 'Sadly missed' | 'Sadly missed' |
| The soldiers had been providing security for the local population in Sangin when they were killed. | |
| L/Cpl Cooper went to Whitecross High School before joining the Army and deploying to Afghanistan in October last year. | L/Cpl Cooper went to Whitecross High School before joining the Army and deploying to Afghanistan in October last year. |
| Lt Col Nick Kitson described the 21-year-old as "the consummate soldier, the complete package; fit, bright and dedicated to his work". | Lt Col Nick Kitson described the 21-year-old as "the consummate soldier, the complete package; fit, bright and dedicated to his work". |
| The soldier's parents, Karl and Caroline Cooper, said he was a "caring son, brother and partner" who would be "sadly missed". | The soldier's parents, Karl and Caroline Cooper, said he was a "caring son, brother and partner" who would be "sadly missed". |
| They added: "Daniel, we were proud to be your parents from the day you were born." | They added: "Daniel, we were proud to be your parents from the day you were born." |