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Funeral for bomb disposal soldier | Funeral for bomb disposal soldier |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The funeral of a soldier who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been held in Cornwall. | |
Capt Daniel Read, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based in Oxfordshire, died in Helmand last month. | Capt Daniel Read, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based in Oxfordshire, died in Helmand last month. |
The 31-year-old officer, who lived near Newquay but was originally from Kent, was killed months after being injured in another blast. | The 31-year-old officer, who lived near Newquay but was originally from Kent, was killed months after being injured in another blast. |
Hundreds of people turned out for the service at Truro Cathedral. | |
Capt Read, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire, dealt with 32 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan. | Capt Read, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire, dealt with 32 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan. |
He was injured in a bomb blast in October 2009, suffering serious shrapnel wounds, but returned to duty in December. | |
'Never forgotten' | 'Never forgotten' |
He died in the Musa Qala area in the north of Helmand province on 11 January. | He died in the Musa Qala area in the north of Helmand province on 11 January. |
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Truro on the route to the cathedral. | |
His coffin was carried in as a piper played. The service, attended by a congregation of about 600 people, was led by the Dean of Truro, the Very Rev Dr Christopher Hardwick. | |
Capt Read had returned to front-line duties after being injured | Capt Read had returned to front-line duties after being injured |
Major Kier Head, the regiment's acting commanding officer, accompanied Capt Read's widow, Lorraine, to the service. | |
Also attending were his mother Sally Webb, father Leslie Read, fellow servicemen and a number of officers from Devon and Cornwall Police, colleagues of his widow who is a serving officer. | |
Major Head described Capt Read as a "remarkable man" and a "soldier's soldier". | |
He said: "It's such a sad day for us. He really was an immense loss to the regiment. | |
"He was just desperate to go back and finish his tour. He always wanted to be back out there with his team." | |
Earlier tributes included his widow describing him as her "hero and best friend". | |
She said: "He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and friend. | |
"He will never be forgotten and always in my heart." | "He will never be forgotten and always in my heart." |
She said she was "proud and privileged" to have been his wife. | She said she was "proud and privileged" to have been his wife. |
Tributes to Capt Read, who lived in St Columb Road, also included a statement from Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Tributes to Capt Read, who lived in St Columb Road, also included a statement from Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
Half-mast flags | |
During a statement in the Commons, Mr Brown said: "His sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends." | During a statement in the Commons, Mr Brown said: "His sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends." |
A guard of honour fired rifle volleys outside the cathedral as the cortege left. The funeral was followed by a further private family service held elsewhere. | |
The ensign at the Royal Navy's training base at Torpoint, HMS Raleigh, is at half mast as a sign of respect, as are flags at local Royal British Legion associations. | The ensign at the Royal Navy's training base at Torpoint, HMS Raleigh, is at half mast as a sign of respect, as are flags at local Royal British Legion associations. |
Capt Read was also a colleague of Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, from Truro, who was killed while trying to disarm a bomb in October 2009. | Capt Read was also a colleague of Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, from Truro, who was killed while trying to disarm a bomb in October 2009. |
He attended Staff Sgt Schmid's funeral at Truro Cathedral last November. | He attended Staff Sgt Schmid's funeral at Truro Cathedral last November. |