Repatriation ceremony for Rifleman James...

RIFLEMAN James Stephen Brown’s friends and colleagues carried his Union Jack flag draped coffin at a repatriation ceremony.

The 18-year-old from Orpington was killed a week ago today (December 22) when two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a checkpoint he was guarding.

They had planned to detonate their lethal device at a nearby market but instead detonated it at the checkpoint on the route into central Sangin, northern Helmand, Afghanistan.

Fellow soldier Lance Corporal David Leslie Kirkness, 24, died at the scene and Rifleman Brown died on the way to hospital in Camp Bastion from injuries sustained in the incident.

Both men were from the 3 RIFLES Reconnaissance Platoon.
James’s father Steve paid tribute to him shortly after his death.

Crowds gathered on the streets of Wootton Bassett to pay their respects as Rifleman Brown’s cortege passed through the town.

The market town has become a focal point for people to pay their respects to fallen members of the armed forces because it is close to RAF Lyneham where the repatriation ceremonies take place.