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Home town unites in grief for victim of suicide blast
MORE than 100 people gathered at a Yorkshire town's war memorial in bitingly cold weather to pay respects to a soldier killed in Afghanistan.
The market town of Morley, Leeds, was united in grief yesterday for the loss of Lance Corporal David Kirkness who was killed on December 15.
The 24-year-old soldier was killed along with Rifleman James Brown, 18, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, when two suicide bombers on a motorbike blew themselves up outside Sangin in Helmand province.
The act of remembrance in Scratcherd Park was organised to coincide with the repatriation of both men's bodies to the UK, alongside another soldier, Cpl Simon Hornby, who died on Saturday.
Many of those present wiped away tears as a lone bugler sounded The Last Post.
Opening the ceremony, the Rev Tony Lee, the Mayor of Leeds's chaplain, offered a prayer for both the soldiers and to the family of L/Cpl Kirkness.
He said: "We think especially today of his parents Chris and Margaret as they receive him, at RAF Lyneham, home.
"We pray for his brother Christopher, for his friend and partner Mel, and for Brooke the child he leaves behind and fatherless. We pray this day, a day of sorrow and a day of pride."
Five standard bearers from Yorkshire regiments lowered their flags as Deputy Honorary Colonel Brian Denney of Leeds Rifles read the Regimental Collect of the Rifles.
The crowd fell quiet and bowed their heads for a two-minute silence.
Speaking afterwards, Col Denney said the number of people who had attended was a "wonderful tribute" and said such displays of support for soldiers bolstered morale.
"It not only helps," he said, "it's absolutely essential that they know that the public are behind them."
A friend and neighbour of Cpl Kirkness, Sophie Roughley, 18, said: "I'm so glad that this many people have turned out, especially with the cold."
"It's great to see John Townsley, the headteacher at Morley High, which is the school David went to."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -9 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
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