Widow weeps for dead Marine

Corporal Stephen Curley, of 40 Commando, was flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire yesterday, along with Marine Scott Taylor, also of 40 Commando, and Gunner Zak Cusack, of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery.

Cpl Curley's wife Kirianne held their son William, who had a small banner with the message "I want to be just like my daddy" placed over his shoulders, and looked on as the soldiers' cortege passed through nearby Wootton Bassett.

Mrs Curley and William were joined by hundreds of Royal British Legion members, shopkeepers and soldiers, who lined the town's High Street in tribute. Silence fell as the soldiers' Union-flag draped coffins paused at the town's war memorial.

Corporal Curley, 26, born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was killed on May 26 in an explosion while on a foot patrol through the southern Green Zone to reassure local nationals. He lived with his wife and son in Exeter.

Gunner Cusack, 20, from Stoke-on-Trent, was killed by small arms fire from insurgent forces and Marine Taylor, born in Buxton, Derbyshire, was killed on May 30 by an explosion. Both were on foot patrol.