Soldier laid to rest with full honours

An heroic 24-year soldier killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan has been laid to rest near his family's home in a Shropshire village.

About 200 people attended the full military funeral for Captain Rupert Bowers at St Bartholomew's Church in Moreton Corbet, near Shawbury.

Capt Bowers, who was educated in the county and became a father in February, was killed by a roadside bomb while leading a patrol to clear an area of insurgents in Helmand Province on March 21.

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

Family and friends were joined by military colleagues at the service on Saturday, along with North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson and the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber-Percy.

About 50 people listened to the service over loudspeakers in the churchyard as the tiny church could not accommodate everyone.

Colleagues

The coffin carrying Captain Bowers, of 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, was met at the church by a guard of honour of local Royal British Legion members and carried into the church by colleagues he served with in Afghanistan.

He was buried at the church following a moving service, which included the hymns I Vow To Thee My Country and He Who Would Valiant Be.

Tributes were paid by military colleagues plus his sister Juliet, who spoke about his love of adventure and excitement, as well as his loyalty to his family and great sense of humour.

Major Paddy Ginn recalled the incredible bravery Capt Bowers had shown during his military career.

"He was mentioned in dispatches for giving away his rifle to a soldier who needed it more and carrying a wounded man out of a firefight on his back," he said.

"What he did in a short life, some people will take a lifetime to achieve."

Rev David Humphries, who led the hour-long service, said afterwards: "It included tributes from his family and his regimental family, his fellow soldiers.

"We prayed for his family and we prayed for those serving in Afghanistan."

Capt Bowers attended Kingsland Grange School in Shrewsbury as a child.