Funeral of soldier killed in Iraq

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The funeral has been held of a 19-year-old soldier from Greater Manchester who was killed in Iraq.

Kingsman Jamie Hancock, from Wigan, had been in the country for just 17 days when he was shot while on sentry duty at a base in Basra on 6 November.

He was buried at a cemetery near his home following the military funeral at St John's Church in Hindley Green.

At 19, Kingsman Hancock was one of the youngest British soldiers to lose his life in Iraq.

The teenager, served in the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and had volunteered for a six-month tour of duty in the Middle East.

He was single and lived with his brother, also a serving soldier.

Following Kingsman Hancock's death, his father Eddie, 60, attacked the "fiasco" of the war in Iraq and demanded the withdrawal of British troops.

His enthusiasm was boundless and the fearless spirit with which he lived was amply demonstrated by his decision to volunteer for this Iraq tour. Major Chris Job, Kingsman Hancock's commander He said: "It's the whole situation which is totally a fiasco, where there are more people dying now than when Saddam was there."

On joining the army, Kingsman Hancock served as a rifleman involved in training to prepare other units for operations in Iraq.

He started a six-month tour of the country as part of Catterick-based 19 Light Brigade, which his battalion forms part of, and had only been in Iraq since 21 October.

Major Chris Job, Kingsman Hancock's commander, paid tribute to him saying he had a "very promising career ahead of him".

He added: "Kingsman Hancock was an energetic and enthusiastic individual who lived for the Army.

"His enthusiasm was boundless and the fearless spirit with which he lived was amply demonstrated by his decision to volunteer for this Iraq tour."

In a statement, Kingsman Hancock's family said: "We are deeply shocked at the loss of our much-loved son.

"We are and always will be very proud of him and all that he achieved."