HUNDREDS of mourners gathered at a church to say their final farewell to a teenage soldier shot dead in Iraq.
A firing party from Aaron Lincoln's regiment formed a guard of honour as his body was carried from the St Giles Church on Gilesgate in Durham City yesterday.
About 700 mourners attended the funeral of the 18-year-old riflemen, who was killed in Basra on April 2.
He loved soldiering and was very good at it.
"He loved his life in the Army and showed courage and loyalty.
"Ultimately, he sacrificed his life for his friends.
"It is a glowing tribute to young man who has lost his life for his friends.
The church was full and many mourners listened to the address on loudspeakers that had been set up outside.
Rev McKnight said: "Aaron was always determined to help others.
He was great guy. He was a popular and fun-loving guy.
"He loved to party.
He loved music. He loved Durham. He loved his friends.
He loved his family.
"We come to celebrate his life, short as it was, full of fun and vigour, enthusiasm and commitment."
Rifleman Lincoln, who was serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, had been in the Army for a year and is believed to be one of the youngest soldiers to be killed while on patrol in Iraq.
He was shot during a gun battle in the southern city of Basra when he entered a building to tackle the sniper who had fired on his patrol.
Rifleman Lincoln was buried at Belmont Cemetery where the firing party fired a volley of three shots.
Captain Mark Skinner said: "Aaron was a vibrant, cheerful, local lad from the Sherburn Estate, where he grew up as part of a wider family group and who want nothing more than to join his local infantry regiment, The Rifles.
"Today is a celebration of Aaron and the beginning of his parents remembrance of their son who died doing what he so wanted to."
The Durham Gilesgate School pupil leaves parents Peter and Karen, a brother, Craig and two sisters, Donna and Christina.
Friends and family gathered at Ramside Hall, near Durham, after the burial.
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