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Funeral for bomb victim soldier | Funeral for bomb victim soldier |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Hundreds of people have lined the streets in north Kent to pay tribute to a soldier who died in Afghanistan. | |
Rifleman Daniel Holkham, 19, of the 3rd Battalion The Rifles was killed by a suicide bomber last month. | |
His brothers Matthew, 20, and Andrew, 18, who were serving with the same battalion, were allowed leave to act as pallbearers at his funeral on Friday. | |
Four other comrades helped them carry the Union flag-draped coffin into All Saints Church on the Isle of Sheppey. | |
The church bells tolled as Rifleman Holkham's parents Rodney and Tracy and girlfriend Nikki Rudd followed them into the building. | |
'Brave boy' | |
A tribute read on behalf of his parents said: "How can you sum up your feelings for someone you have loved so much for more than 19 years, have seen grow into a man, sat at his side when he was ill and have tried to be there for him at every step of the way? | |
Daniel Holkham, and his two brothers, were all in the same battalion | |
"Danny was a quiet, brave boy who took everything in his stride. He never really made a fuss about anything and would more often than not just laugh problems away. | |
"And, boy, once he started laughing that was it. He would end up with tears rolling down his face and then we would all join in." | |
Earlier, hundreds of people who lined the streets outside All Saints Church clapped as his hearse passed them. | |
In a statement at the time of his death, Ltn Col Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer, 3 Rifles Battle Group, said: "Rifleman Holkham was well established as the lead man in his patrol, responsible for searching the ground for buried explosive devices to allow his patrol to pass safely. | |
"He died at the head of his patrol, another unquestioningly courageous Rifleman intercepting a crazed suicide bomber before he could cause havoc in the Sangin bazaar." | "He died at the head of his patrol, another unquestioningly courageous Rifleman intercepting a crazed suicide bomber before he could cause havoc in the Sangin bazaar." |
Funeral for blast death soldier |
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