HUNDREDS of people gathered at a Kidderminster church for the funeral of a 24-year-old soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Richard Brandon, who was serving with the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, died instantly when his vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device, on Wednesday, September 2, south of Gereshk in Helmand Province. Yesterday friends, family, fellow soldiers and officers, filled St George’s Church, Radford Avenue, for the funeral with full military honours.

Mourners also stood outside the church and listened to the service, led by the Rev Hugh Burton, through speakers. There was applause from the waiting crowd as the hearse, containing flowers from his family, arrived at the church.

L/Cpl Brandon’s coffin, draped in a Union Flag, was carried into the church through a guard of honour by Army colleagues to the song, I’m Amazed By You, by Bryan Adams.

L/Cpl Brandon, of Broom Crescent, Kidderminster, chose the song for his wedding to his fiancée Emma-Jayne Webster.

His parents, Anne and Geoff, Miss Webster, aged 27, daughter Kaitlin, three, and stepsons, Martyn Raszke, 12, and Liam Raszke-Webster, nine, were among the family members who followed the coffin into the church. Miss Webster wept as she paid tribute to her “best friend” and “soul mate” who she was due to marry in August next year.

“You would’ve thought he was the first dad in the world. He took to being a dad like a duck to water,” she said. “Richie was an absolute darling with the things he did. He far exceeded my expectations with everything he did and all he became.”

She said: “He loved being a soldier. He was a squaddie through and through.”

L/Cpl Brandon’s sister, Denise, also paid tribute to him.

She said: “I have 24 years of memories and I will keep each one with me in my heart always.”

A volley of shots were let off before L/Cpl Brandon’s coffin was carried out of the church. A private ceremony was held at Stourbridge crematorium.