This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8592362.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Funeral for 18-year-old soldier | Funeral for 18-year-old soldier |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to a young soldier from Doncaster who was killed in Afghanistan without ever meeting his baby son. | Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to a young soldier from Doncaster who was killed in Afghanistan without ever meeting his baby son. |
| Rifleman Liam Maughan, 18, from 3 Rifles, was shot while on watch in Sangin, Helmand province, on 6 March. | Rifleman Liam Maughan, 18, from 3 Rifles, was shot while on watch in Sangin, Helmand province, on 6 March. |
| He had become a father to his son Jayden, just weeks before his death. | He had become a father to his son Jayden, just weeks before his death. |
| At his funeral at St Lawrence Church in Doncaster, his father David said: "We have been robbed of ever knowing Liam the man and Liam the father." | At his funeral at St Lawrence Church in Doncaster, his father David said: "We have been robbed of ever knowing Liam the man and Liam the father." |
| Crowds lined the streets around the church as the soldier's coffin, which included a white floral tribute, that spelled out Dad, was carried in. | Crowds lined the streets around the church as the soldier's coffin, which included a white floral tribute, that spelled out Dad, was carried in. |
| 'Beautiful boy' | 'Beautiful boy' |
| Many mourners in the small village, where a handful of shops had covered their doors with Union flags and black ribbons, remained outside and listened to the service through loud speakers. | Many mourners in the small village, where a handful of shops had covered their doors with Union flags and black ribbons, remained outside and listened to the service through loud speakers. |
| In a eulogy, Mr Maughan said Liam as a child was an "easy baby" who was always "happy, smiling and relaxed" and these qualities transcended into adult life. | In a eulogy, Mr Maughan said Liam as a child was an "easy baby" who was always "happy, smiling and relaxed" and these qualities transcended into adult life. |
| "I was constantly approached by women fussing over him and telling us what a beautiful little boy he was and how he would break hearts one day. | "I was constantly approached by women fussing over him and telling us what a beautiful little boy he was and how he would break hearts one day. |
| Maj Chris Willis said Rifleman Maughan was a young man "full of potential" | |
| "Liam continued to receive this type of comment throughout his life but we never imagined in our darkest nightmares just how that heartbreak would manifest itself." | "Liam continued to receive this type of comment throughout his life but we never imagined in our darkest nightmares just how that heartbreak would manifest itself." |
| He said his son had managed throughout his life to get into "scrapes" but get away with it. | He said his son had managed throughout his life to get into "scrapes" but get away with it. |
| "He did not see danger, serious was not in his vocabulary, he took everything in his stride and nothing fazed him." | "He did not see danger, serious was not in his vocabulary, he took everything in his stride and nothing fazed him." |
| He added: "I thought, I hoped, it would be this knack of his for getting away with it that would keep him safe in Afghanistan. | He added: "I thought, I hoped, it would be this knack of his for getting away with it that would keep him safe in Afghanistan. |
| "I thought he was indestructible, and that he would return as unaffected and unimpressed as he was with most things." | "I thought he was indestructible, and that he would return as unaffected and unimpressed as he was with most things." |
| Rifleman Maughan was providing protection to his platoon when he died. | Rifleman Maughan was providing protection to his platoon when he died. |
| Major Chris Willis, Officer Commander, 3rd Battalion Rifles Rear Operations, described Rifleman Maughan as a "young man full of potential". | Major Chris Willis, Officer Commander, 3rd Battalion Rifles Rear Operations, described Rifleman Maughan as a "young man full of potential". |