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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hundreds attend soldier's funeral | Hundreds attend soldier's funeral |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of mourners have packed a small stone church and its grounds to pay tribute to a teenage soldier. | Hundreds of mourners have packed a small stone church and its grounds to pay tribute to a teenage soldier. |
| The congregation was told how Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, 18, of Durham, gave his life for his colleagues during a close quarters gun battle in Basra, Iraq. | The congregation was told how Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, 18, of Durham, gave his life for his colleagues during a close quarters gun battle in Basra, Iraq. |
| Rifleman Lincoln of the Sherburn Road Estate had been serving with the 2nd Battalion, the Rifles. | Rifleman Lincoln of the Sherburn Road Estate had been serving with the 2nd Battalion, the Rifles. |
| About 700 mourners attended the service at Durham's St Giles Church. He died on 2 April on a routine security patrol. | About 700 mourners attended the service at Durham's St Giles Church. He died on 2 April on a routine security patrol. |
| Mourners were told how the young soldier, who had only been in Iraq since January, was out with his platoon when they came under fire. | Mourners were told how the young soldier, who had only been in Iraq since January, was out with his platoon when they came under fire. |
| He was a wonderful young Rifleman, caring and committed Army tribute | |
| They were in the Al Ashar district of central Basra, near Basra Palace, and another of the patrol was also wounded. | They were in the Al Ashar district of central Basra, near Basra Palace, and another of the patrol was also wounded. |
| Rifleman Lincoln tried to get into the building from where the shots were thought to have been fired but he was hit with small arms fire from another direction. | Rifleman Lincoln tried to get into the building from where the shots were thought to have been fired but he was hit with small arms fire from another direction. |
| Both wounded men were taken to Basra Palace and then to the field hospital at Basra Air Station for further treatment but Rifleman Lincoln later died of his injuries. | Both wounded men were taken to Basra Palace and then to the field hospital at Basra Air Station for further treatment but Rifleman Lincoln later died of his injuries. |
| Mourners stood in silence as his coffin, draped in the Union Flag, was carried up a winding gravel path at the church. | Mourners stood in silence as his coffin, draped in the Union Flag, was carried up a winding gravel path at the church. |
| A tannoy system was set up to relay the service to the hundreds of mourners who could not get inside the small stone church, which holds 350. | A tannoy system was set up to relay the service to the hundreds of mourners who could not get inside the small stone church, which holds 350. |
| 'Fiercely proud' | |
| The church bells rang at noon as the police-escorted cortege arrived at the church entrance and the service got under way with the hymn, How Great Thou Art. | The church bells rang at noon as the police-escorted cortege arrived at the church entrance and the service got under way with the hymn, How Great Thou Art. |
| It was jointly conducted by Canon Richard Davison and Catterick Garrison Chaplain Ray McKnight. | It was jointly conducted by Canon Richard Davison and Catterick Garrison Chaplain Ray McKnight. |
| The congregation heard how the soldier "ultimately sacrificed his life for his friends". | The congregation heard how the soldier "ultimately sacrificed his life for his friends". |
| An Army tribute included the words: "He was a wonderful young Rifleman, caring and committed, who loved soldiering and he was very good at it." | An Army tribute included the words: "He was a wonderful young Rifleman, caring and committed, who loved soldiering and he was very good at it." |
| His parents Peter and Karen led the coffin into the church supporting each other. | His parents Peter and Karen led the coffin into the church supporting each other. |
| Rifleman Lincoln, who had two sisters and one brother, had followed a long family tradition by joining the Army just a year ago. | Rifleman Lincoln, who had two sisters and one brother, had followed a long family tradition by joining the Army just a year ago. |
| His grandfather served with the local Durham Light Infantry and he was said by colleagues to be fiercely proud of his family's military heritage. | His grandfather served with the local Durham Light Infantry and he was said by colleagues to be fiercely proud of his family's military heritage. |
| Following the 40-minute service the family left for a private ceremony at nearby Belmont Cemetery. | Following the 40-minute service the family left for a private ceremony at nearby Belmont Cemetery. |
| Private Lincoln was the 105th soldier to die in the conflict. The total now stands at 110. | Private Lincoln was the 105th soldier to die in the conflict. The total now stands at 110. |