Aaron McCormick: 'Quality soldier' receives latest silent tribute from town

The body of Ranger Aaron McCormick, 22, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, was flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at lunchtime.

Family members held a private service for the fallen infantry soldier before his coffin was driven past mourners on the solemn and now traditional journey through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett.

His father Lesley and mother Margaret spoke of their immense pride and loss. "We were so proud of Aaron and stood by him knowing the commitment he gave to everything he wanted to do," said Mrs McCormick.

"Of course, we were concerned and anxious but we all supported him.

"Aaron was the perfect son, brother and uncle. He gave so much of himself in everything he did and he loved to be here (at home) with his family and friends.

"He also loved being with his many friends in the Royal Irish Regiment."

The soldier, from Coleraine, Co Londonderry, was helping to clear an area of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a security patrol in Nad 'Ali when he was killed in an explosion on November 14.

Mr McCormick said his son, a star pupil throughout school, had the opportunity to go through officer training at Sandhurst but was determined to join the ranks as soon as he could.

"Aaron always made friends wherever he went," he added.

"He never wished harm for anyone and loved to be with his friends, both at home and those within the Royal Irish Regiment.

"He wanted to excel in everything he decided to do, even dancing. He won competition after competition for jive and rock and roll.

"He was so popular in being invited to that many formals that he found it cheaper to buy a dinner suit than to keep renting one.

"Aaron had that sort of cheeky personality that disarmed people and he made so many close friends.

"We have lost a perfect son - the community has lost a perfect friend."

As well as dancing, the young soldier loved music. He played the clarinet at his school, Coleraine Institute, and was planning to learn the saxophone when he returned from the front line.

"He had been giving the money to his mother to save for him," said his father.

"We got it for him just one week before he left for Afghanistan. He had mastered the clarinet and seen the saxophone as his next musical step."

Mrs McCormick said the rest of the family were devastated.

"His brother Michael, sisters Tammy and Carrie-Ann are shattered and feel such a loss," she said.

"And there's also his niece, four-year-old Tamara, who carries Aaron's photograph proudly telling everyone it's her uncle."

The soldier also leaves behind his girlfriend Becky.

Ranger McCormick previously served in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 8 and was quickly identified as a "quality soldier", according to the Ministry of Defence.

Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir MBE, the regiment's Commanding Officer, said he was "the epitome of the Irish infantry soldier: tough; selfless; good-humoured and full of compassion".