bobdina
10-17-2009, 03:17 PM
'True Hero' Soldier Buried
Friday, October 16, 2009
Source: The Sun Online
A "True hero" soldier killed in Afghanistan after receiving one of the nation's highest awards for gallantry has been laid to rest by emotional friends and family.
Sergeant Michael Lockett died while on a patrol in the Gereshk district of Helmand Province on September 21 and more than 100 people came to pay tribute to the courageous soldier.
The 29-year-old, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was investigating and confirming the find of an improvised explosive device when it detonated, killing him.
The dad-of-three was nearing the end of his third tour of Afghanistan when he died.
Sgt Lockett, of Monifieth in Angus, was awarded the Military Cross in 2007 for his "selfless commitment and unshakeable bravery" in fighting and leading his platoon to rescue wounded comrades trapped in a Taliban ambush.
He led a five-man rescue party into enemy "killing" zones on three occasions, coming within 15 yards of the Taliban on September 7, 2007.
Today family, friends and colleagues packed the Cathcart Old Parish Church in Glasgow to pay their final respects to the soldier.
The coffin was draped with the Union flag and a regimental cap, belt and his military medals including the Military Cross were placed on top.
Sgt Lockett's partner Belinda English wept as his coffin was carried into the church for the service.
She said: "We miss him desperately and there is now a gap in our ranks that will be so very difficult to fill."
The soldier's three children from a previous marriage, Connor, Chloe and Courtney, were also present at the service, with his parents Mal and April Lockett.
After the ceremony they spoke of their pride in their son, who they said was "always positive and always seemed larger than life".
They said in a statement: "Words simply cannot express what he meant to his close and wider family and his many friends.
"His passing has left a huge void in all our lives that can never be filled. We can only take solace in the fact that he died doing a job that he was born to do with his boys in the Mercian Regiment."
The service, which was led by the Rev Nicola Frail, included the reading When A Knight Won His Spurs, in tribute to Sgt Lockett's military career.
Lance Corporal Matt Carnell, of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, paid tribute to an "outstanding commander" who he said had kept him safe on many occasions.
He said: "Not only was he an outstanding officer, he was a really good friend. He was always there for advice, no matter what it was about.
"At the end of the chat you knew it was always right and that everything would be OK.
"Everyone knew they were safe while on his patrol, no matter what it was. We are still to this day thankful in our hearts and minds to him."
Mourners sung the hymns Be Thou My Vision, Immortal, Invisible, and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, which included the lines: "As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free."
Ms Frail said Sgt Lockett, known as Locky, had "laid down his life for his friends", making the ultimate sacrifice.
"He died doing a job he loved and he earned the highest respect from all those who knew and worked with him," she said.
After the ceremony his coffin was carried out of the church by members of the Mercian Regiment, and taken to the nearby Linn Cemetery.
http://www.modoracle.com/news/True-Hero-Soldier-Buried_19062.html
Friday, October 16, 2009
Source: The Sun Online
A "True hero" soldier killed in Afghanistan after receiving one of the nation's highest awards for gallantry has been laid to rest by emotional friends and family.
Sergeant Michael Lockett died while on a patrol in the Gereshk district of Helmand Province on September 21 and more than 100 people came to pay tribute to the courageous soldier.
The 29-year-old, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was investigating and confirming the find of an improvised explosive device when it detonated, killing him.
The dad-of-three was nearing the end of his third tour of Afghanistan when he died.
Sgt Lockett, of Monifieth in Angus, was awarded the Military Cross in 2007 for his "selfless commitment and unshakeable bravery" in fighting and leading his platoon to rescue wounded comrades trapped in a Taliban ambush.
He led a five-man rescue party into enemy "killing" zones on three occasions, coming within 15 yards of the Taliban on September 7, 2007.
Today family, friends and colleagues packed the Cathcart Old Parish Church in Glasgow to pay their final respects to the soldier.
The coffin was draped with the Union flag and a regimental cap, belt and his military medals including the Military Cross were placed on top.
Sgt Lockett's partner Belinda English wept as his coffin was carried into the church for the service.
She said: "We miss him desperately and there is now a gap in our ranks that will be so very difficult to fill."
The soldier's three children from a previous marriage, Connor, Chloe and Courtney, were also present at the service, with his parents Mal and April Lockett.
After the ceremony they spoke of their pride in their son, who they said was "always positive and always seemed larger than life".
They said in a statement: "Words simply cannot express what he meant to his close and wider family and his many friends.
"His passing has left a huge void in all our lives that can never be filled. We can only take solace in the fact that he died doing a job that he was born to do with his boys in the Mercian Regiment."
The service, which was led by the Rev Nicola Frail, included the reading When A Knight Won His Spurs, in tribute to Sgt Lockett's military career.
Lance Corporal Matt Carnell, of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, paid tribute to an "outstanding commander" who he said had kept him safe on many occasions.
He said: "Not only was he an outstanding officer, he was a really good friend. He was always there for advice, no matter what it was about.
"At the end of the chat you knew it was always right and that everything would be OK.
"Everyone knew they were safe while on his patrol, no matter what it was. We are still to this day thankful in our hearts and minds to him."
Mourners sung the hymns Be Thou My Vision, Immortal, Invisible, and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, which included the lines: "As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free."
Ms Frail said Sgt Lockett, known as Locky, had "laid down his life for his friends", making the ultimate sacrifice.
"He died doing a job he loved and he earned the highest respect from all those who knew and worked with him," she said.
After the ceremony his coffin was carried out of the church by members of the Mercian Regiment, and taken to the nearby Linn Cemetery.
http://www.modoracle.com/news/True-Hero-Soldier-Buried_19062.html