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| Hundreds join tribute to soldier | Hundreds join tribute to soldier |
| (1 day later) | |
| Hundreds of people joined family and friends for a memorial service for the 200th UK soldier killed in the Afghanistan conflict. | Hundreds of people joined family and friends for a memorial service for the 200th UK soldier killed in the Afghanistan conflict. |
| A minute's silence was held at the cenotaph in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, at 1415 BST, which was the time Richard Hunt died a week last Saturday. | A minute's silence was held at the cenotaph in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, at 1415 BST, which was the time Richard Hunt died a week last Saturday. |
| The Army joined the tribute on what would have been his 22nd birthday. | The Army joined the tribute on what would have been his 22nd birthday. |
| Pte Hunt died after his patrol from A Company the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh was hit by an explosive device. | Pte Hunt died after his patrol from A Company the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh was hit by an explosive device. |
| Soldiers from 2nd and 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh were present at the memorial as the Last Post brought the centre of the market town to a standstill for a minute's silence. | Soldiers from 2nd and 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh were present at the memorial as the Last Post brought the centre of the market town to a standstill for a minute's silence. |
| His parents Hazel and Phillip hugged after adding a wreath to the flowers and birthday cards laid at the base of the war memorial. | His parents Hazel and Phillip hugged after adding a wreath to the flowers and birthday cards laid at the base of the war memorial. |
| They had asked for cards to be written as a tribute to Pte Hunt and that no-one wore black, with the occasion to be a celebration of his life. | They had asked for cards to be written as a tribute to Pte Hunt and that no-one wore black, with the occasion to be a celebration of his life. |
| They were joined by his brother Alun, sisters Jayne and Fi, and girlfriend Rhiannon Simmonds. | They were joined by his brother Alun, sisters Jayne and Fi, and girlfriend Rhiannon Simmonds. |
| Richard Hunt showed 'boundless enthusiasm,' said Army chiefs | Richard Hunt showed 'boundless enthusiasm,' said Army chiefs |
| In a card to her brother, Jayne wrote: "Happy Birthday Baby Bro. I got your card on time for once." | In a card to her brother, Jayne wrote: "Happy Birthday Baby Bro. I got your card on time for once." |
| A copy of the video game Call of Duty: World at War was left among the tributes. | A copy of the video game Call of Duty: World at War was left among the tributes. |
| A hand-written message read: "Happy Birthday 'Hunty'. Play you again one day. Dad." | A hand-written message read: "Happy Birthday 'Hunty'. Play you again one day. Dad." |
| Jonathan "Chocky" Cholakian, 21, said learning of his friend's death last weekend was "the worst day of my life". | Jonathan "Chocky" Cholakian, 21, said learning of his friend's death last weekend was "the worst day of my life". |
| "He has always been my best mate. I'm absolutely devastated," he said. | "He has always been my best mate. I'm absolutely devastated," he said. |
| Another friend, James Cunningham, 22, said: "About a week ago we came up with the idea for Richard's birthday. | Another friend, James Cunningham, 22, said: "About a week ago we came up with the idea for Richard's birthday. |
| Tributes were paid to Pte Richard Hunt, while James Cunningham explained the support family and friends had received | Tributes were paid to Pte Richard Hunt, while James Cunningham explained the support family and friends had received |
| "We were trying to think of what to do and this seemed like a fitting tribute to have as many people come and celebrate his life as possible. The amount of people here is awesome." | "We were trying to think of what to do and this seemed like a fitting tribute to have as many people come and celebrate his life as possible. The amount of people here is awesome." |
| He invited the gathered crowd to come and "celebrate Richard's life in style" at a local pub. | He invited the gathered crowd to come and "celebrate Richard's life in style" at a local pub. |
| Pte Hunt has been praised by Lt Col Mark Wheeler, commanding officer 2 Royal Welsh, as someone who was quiet by nature, but "clearly had a passion for soldiering". | Pte Hunt has been praised by Lt Col Mark Wheeler, commanding officer 2 Royal Welsh, as someone who was quiet by nature, but "clearly had a passion for soldiering". |
| "He was enthusiastic and dedicated in all that he pursued and coupled with his natural ability, particularly his robust physical strength, a bright future lay ahead," said Lt Col Wheeler. | "He was enthusiastic and dedicated in all that he pursued and coupled with his natural ability, particularly his robust physical strength, a bright future lay ahead," said Lt Col Wheeler. |
| His company commander, Major Huw Jones said it had been "typical of him to volunteer to drive a Warrior when the need arose". | His company commander, Major Huw Jones said it had been "typical of him to volunteer to drive a Warrior when the need arose". |
| Maj Jones said: "Despite the danger he threw himself at the task with the boundless enthusiasm and selfless commitment which was his hallmark - he set an example for us all." | Maj Jones said: "Despite the danger he threw himself at the task with the boundless enthusiasm and selfless commitment which was his hallmark - he set an example for us all." |
| His parents, Hazel and Phillip Hunt, have described their son as "selfless to the end", with his bravado masking "a natural shyness". | His parents, Hazel and Phillip Hunt, have described their son as "selfless to the end", with his bravado masking "a natural shyness". |
| Mrs Hunt has also criticised the treatment of troops in Afghanistan, and said politicians needed to listen to and understand their demands for more and better help and equipment. | Mrs Hunt has also criticised the treatment of troops in Afghanistan, and said politicians needed to listen to and understand their demands for more and better help and equipment. |
| Pte Hunt, who came from a farming family, was born in Pembrokeshire and grew up in Abergavenny. | Pte Hunt, who came from a farming family, was born in Pembrokeshire and grew up in Abergavenny. |
| He died in a Birmingham hospital on Saturday, 15 August, two days after his vehicle patrol had been hit by an explosion in Helmand province. | He died in a Birmingham hospital on Saturday, 15 August, two days after his vehicle patrol had been hit by an explosion in Helmand province. |
| People leave flowers and tributes at the base of the cenotaph in Abergavenny | People leave flowers and tributes at the base of the cenotaph in Abergavenny |