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Funeral for killed woman soldier Funeral for killed woman soldier
(about 1 hour later)
The funeral of the first British woman to die in active service in Afghanistan is being held later at the church where she got married two years ago. The funeral of the first British woman to die in active service in Afghanistan has been held at the church where she was married two years ago.
Corporal Sarah Bryant, 26, of the Intelligence Corps, was one of four soldiers killed on 17 June when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle.Corporal Sarah Bryant, 26, of the Intelligence Corps, was one of four soldiers killed on 17 June when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle.
Hours earlier she had been told she had been earmarked for promotion.Hours earlier she had been told she had been earmarked for promotion.
She will be given full military honours at the service at Holy Trinity Church in Wetheral, near Carlisle. She was given full military honours at the service at Holy Trinity Church in Wetheral, near Carlisle.
The service, at the church where she married her husband Cpl Carl Bryant, will be jointly conducted by the church vicar, the Reverend David Craven, and the intelligence corps chaplain, Padre Clive Larrett. The service, at the church where she married her husband Cpl Carl Bryant, was jointly conducted by the church vicar, the Reverend David Craven, and the intelligence corps chaplain, Padre Clive Larrett.
Her coffin will be carried by members of the Intelligence Corps, accompanied by military representative Lieutenant-General John Kiszely. Her coffin was carried by members of the Intelligence Corps, accompanied by military representative Lieutenant-General John Kiszely.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Suggit will deliver a eulogy at the service, which will be followed by burial at Wetheral Cemetery. Sarah Bryant was the first female British soldier to die in Afghanistan Fellow soldiers from the Intelligence Corps, in which Corporal Bryant served, lined the gravel path leading to the 17th Century church overlooking the River Eden.
Cpl Bryant, described by her family as their own Angel of the North, was killed with Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, 28, of the Royal Signals, and L/Cpl Richard Larkin, 39, and Paul Stout, 31. A cortege of three cars, the hearse leading the way, arrived shortly after noon on Monday.
She had been in the Army for six years and was based in Chicksands, Bedfordshire, as part of the Intelligence Corps' Psychological Operations Group. Sarah Bryant was the first British woman soldier to die in Afghanistan
Her husband said: "Although I am devastated beyond words at the death of my beautiful wife Sarah, I am so incredibly proud of her." Her husband, fellow soldier Cpl Carl Bryant, her parents Des and Maureen Feely, and Cpl Bryant's parents, followed behind.
Mourners filled the church while others stood in the grounds outside to watch the service relayed on screens.
Lt Colonel Jim Suggit, Cpl Bryant's commanding officer, told mourners: "We are here because we all in different ways loved Sarah. Love is a totality - it's an is or an isn't, there's no half measures.
"Sarah gave us all love, the special and individual love of a daughter, wife, a friend and a comrade in arms.
"This is a special place, it's filled with Sarah's love.
"Sarah did not just give her best, she gave her all."
Finally, he said: "We remember the sparkle you brought us and ever will. Meet you at the final RV (rendezvous). God bless."