Military colleagues turn out to say last farewell to 'ferocious' soldier

MOURNERS braved the weather yesterday to pay their respects to fallen soldier who had fired more Javelin missiles than any other member of the UK Army during the conflict in Afghanistan.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Oct 2010, 00:55 BST

Updated 27th Oct 2010, 00:55 BST

Sergeant Peter Rayner, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Helmand province earlier this month.

Sgt Rayner was described by his commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Boyd as a "ferocious" soldier and a "fantastic sergeant both in battle and in the barracks".

His flag-draped coffin was carried into church yesterday followed immediately by his wife Wendy, 34, and their seven-year-old son Derek. Mrs Rayner proudly wore her husband's medals.

About 300 family, friends, servicemen and mourners including his parents Peter, a former soldier, and Bernadette filled St Joseph's Catholic Church in Bradford for the ceremony.

Lt Col Boyd said: "He was very much a trusted man, a sergeant who gave me truthful advice on how the men are feeling."

Afghanistan