Funeral parade for Shropshire soldier Aaron McCormick

Mourners lined the streets of Wootton Bassett as a Shropshire soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Remembrance Sunday made his final emotional journey.

People in the Wiltshire town paid their respects to Ranger Aaron McCormick, of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment. The 22-year-old had been based at Tern Hill barracks, near Market Drayton.

Amid sombre scenes Ranger McCormick's coffin passed through the town draped in the Union Flag after his body was flown back to nearby RAF Lyneham yesterday afternoon.

The cortege made its way through the town after a private ceremony for the family, where tributes were paid to the soldier.

His father Lesley and mother Margaret spoke of their immense pride and loss following the passing of their "perfect son".

Mr McCormick revealed that his son, a star pupil throughout school, had the opportunity to go through officer training at Sandhurst but was determined to join the ranks as soon as he could.

"Aaron always made friends wherever he went," added Mr McCormick.

"He never wished harm for anyone and loved to be with his friends both at home and those within the Royal Irish Regiment.

"Aaron had that sort of cheeky personality that disarmed people and he made so many close friends.

"We have lost a perfect son - the community has lost a perfect friend."

As well as dancing, the young soldier loved music, he added.

He played the clarinet at his school, Coleraine Institute in Northern Ireland, and was planning to learn the saxophone when he returned from the front line.

"He had been giving the money to his mother to save for him," said his father.

"We got it for him just one week before he left for Afghanistan.

"He had mastered the clarinet and seen the saxophone as his next musical step."

Mrs McCormick said: "His brother Michael, sisters Tammy and Carrie-Ann are shattered and feel such a loss."

The soldier, originally from County Londonderry, had been helping clear an area of improvised explosive devices during a security patrol in Nad'e Ali when he was killed in an explosion on November 14.

Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir, Commanding Officer of the regiment, said: "Ranger Aaron McCormick was the epitome of the Irish infantry soldier: tough, selfless, good-humoured."

By Tom Johannsen