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| Funeral for Barnsley soldier Matthew Thornton | Funeral for Barnsley soldier Matthew Thornton |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The funeral of a Territorial Army (TA) soldier who was killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan is taking place in Darton, South Yorkshire. | |
| Pte Matthew Thornton, 28, from 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, died on 9 November in Helmand Province. | Pte Matthew Thornton, 28, from 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, died on 9 November in Helmand Province. |
| The family of the factory worker from Barnsley said at the time of his death that his loss would leave "a huge hole in all our lives". | The family of the factory worker from Barnsley said at the time of his death that his loss would leave "a huge hole in all our lives". |
| The funeral is taking place at All Saints Church in Darton. | |
| Pte Thornton's father Michael, mother Susan, sister Sarah and brother Nathan said in a statement: "Matthew was a dedicated soldier and passionate about the job. He loved what he was doing." | Pte Thornton's father Michael, mother Susan, sister Sarah and brother Nathan said in a statement: "Matthew was a dedicated soldier and passionate about the job. He loved what he was doing." |
| The Reverend Simon Reynolds, Vicar of Darton, said Pte Thornton's family had shown great courage in the weeks since his death. | The Reverend Simon Reynolds, Vicar of Darton, said Pte Thornton's family had shown great courage in the weeks since his death. |
| He said: "They are very brave people, very remarkable people. In a sense what I have seen in them gives me just a little insight into what a remarkable person Matthew must have been." | He said: "They are very brave people, very remarkable people. In a sense what I have seen in them gives me just a little insight into what a remarkable person Matthew must have been." |
| A keen snowboarder, Pte Thornton joined the TA in 2004. | A keen snowboarder, Pte Thornton joined the TA in 2004. |
| He left briefly in 2007 but re-enlisted in 2009, volunteering his services for deployment to Afghanistan. | He left briefly in 2007 but re-enlisted in 2009, volunteering his services for deployment to Afghanistan. |
| Away from the army, he worked for Yorkshire-based company Premdor, manufacturing door and window frames. | Away from the army, he worked for Yorkshire-based company Premdor, manufacturing door and window frames. |