Hundreds pay tribute to father killed by Taliban who never saw baby son

HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Doncaster yesterday to mourn Rifleman Liam Maughan, a teenage Army sharpshooter killed in Afghanistan.

Rifleman Maughan, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was shot and killed while on watch in Sangin, Helmand Province, on Saturday, March 6. The 18-year-old, from Doncaster, became a father shortly before his death but never got the chance to see his newborn son, Jayden.

Crowds braved bitter temperatures and driving rain yesterday as they lined the streets around St Lawrence Church in Hatfield, where Rifleman Maughan's funeral took place.

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As the hearse approached, with a white floral tribute that spelled out 'Dad', a spontaneous ripple of applause rose from the crowd.

Rifleman Maughan's coffin, topped with his regimental cap, belt and a wreath of poppies, was carried into church to the Band of Brothers theme tune.

In the small village some shops had covered doors with Union flags and black ribbons.

His father, David Maughan, gave a eulogy for his son during the service. He said his son had managed throughout his life to get into "scrapes" but get away with it. He did not see danger, serious was not in his vocabulary, he took everything in his stride and nothing fazed him," he said. "I thought, I hoped, it would be this knack of his for getting away with it that would keep him safe in Afghanistan."

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Mr Maughan also said his son would have had a "long and successful" career in the military and added: "But that was not to be and we all know now what life had in store for him and for us.

"We've all been fortunate enough to know Liam and love Liam the boy and Liam the teenager. But we have been robbed of ever knowing Liam the man and Liam the father, although we will still love him forever."