Hero Shropshire soldier to have full military funeral

A 24-year-old soldier killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan will have a full military funeral at a village church in Shropshire close to his childhood home.

The service for Captain Rupert Bowers, who was educated in the county and became a father in February, will be held at St Bartholomew's Church in Moreton Corbet, near Shawbury.

It will take place, on Saturday from 11am.

Capt Bowers, of 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, was killed by a roadside bomb while leading a patrol to clear an area of insurgents in Helmand Province on March 21.

He was attached to 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, operating as an advisor to the Afghan National Army.

He leaves behind wife Victoria, his newly-born son Hugo, parents Patrick and Jane and sister Juliet.

In a statement, his family said: "Rupert was a kind, caring and thoughtful man who was selfless in his actions as a brave courageous soldier.

"He was a devoted husband, son and father who leaves a wife that is proud to have known him and a sister and parents whose grief is immeasurable. He will be sorely missed."

Hundreds of people lined the streets as the body of Capt Bowers was flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxf- ordshire on March 29. A private service was held for his family.

Capt Bowers, who lived in Oakham, Leicestershire, was born in Wolverhampton in 1987. He attended Kingsland Grange School in Shrewsbury as a child.

After studying at the Old Swinford Hospital and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned into 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in April 2007.

By Tom Johannsen