Crowds pack funeral tribute to Yorkshire victim of Afghan war

THEY applauded the funeral cortege of a teenage soldier killed in Afghanistan while standing in heavy rain to pay their respects.

Crowds gathered outside Wakefield Cathedral as the coffin of Rifleman Luke Farmer was carried inside with full military honours.

His parents, Mark and Angela Farmer, joined hands and stood in silence as six of his comrades carried the coffin, draped in a Union Jack, from the vehicle and into the cathedral past an armed guard.

During the service the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, presented Rifleman Farmer’s family with the Elizabeth Cross, awarded to the next of kin of armed forces personnel killed on operations as a mark of national recognition for their loss.

People young and old braved grey skies and wet weather to pay their respects, standing listening to the service as it was relayed outside.

Rifleman Farmer, 19, from Upton, Pontefract, and of 3rd Battalion the Rifles, was on a foot patrol near Sangin, in Helmand Province, when he was killed on January 15.

Mourners yesterday included his two brothers Scott, 22, and Ross, 21, among friends and family. Wakefield MP Mary Creagh and the leader of Wakefield Council Coun Peter Box were among the dignitaries.

Floral tributes spelt out Rifleman Farmer’s name and another, shaped like a rugby ball, was in the colours of Upton Amateur Rugby League Club, for whom he had played.

After the service some mourners hugged each other in emotional scenes outside the cathedral.

As the funeral cortege departed, those gathered outside and those who had attended the service applauded loudly.

Family members, close friends and soldiers who served with Rifleman Farmer were invited to attend Pontefract Crematorium for the committal.

Giving the address, Canon Michael Rawson, sub-dean of Wakefield Cathedral said Rifleman Farmer was always somebody who had time for other people: “When you made friends with Luke he was a best friend for life,” he said.

He also spoke of his love of playing rugby for Upton and told of the fun-loving side of his nature, someone who liked a laugh and a joke and who was an excellent mimic.

“Today we gather here around Luke to celebrate his boundless energy and all that he gave to other people,” he added.

Platoon commander Lt Palmer Winstanley, who gave a reading, said of Rifleman Farmer: “Luke has saved lives there’s no doubt about it.” He added: “Luke loved every second out there. He loved looking after the team.”

He added: “He was a quiet man, brimming with confidence.”

A tribute was read on behalf of Rifleman Jonnie Rowlands, of 3 Rifles. He described his best friend as a “first class soldier” and said he had never known anybody with whom he had got on so well.

Cpl Lee Brownson, 30, from Bishop Auckland, Durham, also died in the bomb blast that killed Rifleman Farmer.

Tributes were paid to Rifleman Farmer after his death. Maj Tim Harris, his company commander, described the soldier as a “typical Yorkshireman: tough as granite, quietly self-assured and as brave as 10 men”.

Lt Winstanley added that said Rifleman Farmer was responsible for finding improvised explosive devices with a metal detector, and said: “This is an incredible undertaking for anyone, and it is certain that he saved many lives – British and Afghan – through his sheer resilience and bravery.”

In January 300 people travelled from West Yorkshire to the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett to see the repatriation of Rifleman Farmer’s body.

Speaking after travelling to Wiltshire, his mother, Angela Farmer, 44, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for all their support. They’ve been amazing. Even people we don’t know have been sending cards.”