Tears for Scots Guard who died to save others

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 21:35

HUNDREDS of mourners at the funeral of a hero Scottish soldier killed in Afghanistan paid tribute to his courage.

Lance Sergeant David Walker, 36, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, died on 18 February during Operation Moshtarak, a push to purge Taleban strongholds.

He had gone behind enemy lines, saved the lives of injured colleagues and was killed leading his men in pursuit of the Taleban, mourners were told.

Born in the east end of Glasgow, he was as "tough as old boots … steady as a rock and just as hard" and embodied everything the world would expect from a sergeant in the Scots Guards, his commanding officers said.

A lone piper played as comrades, veterans and the public joined his family at St Alban and the Good Shepherd RC Church in Blackburn, Lancashire, where his wife and part of his family are from. Muslim community representatives also attended.

A horse-drawn carriage, with flags and plumes bearing the Scots Guards regimental colours, blue and red, brought L-Sgt Walker's coffin to the church.

Six pallbearers carried his coffin, draped in the Union flag and with his belt and cap on top, through a guard of honour of Scots Guards in their regimental dress of red tunics and bearskins.

His wife, Teresa, and his mother, May, supported by her other sons, Pat, George and James, led mourners into the church as Pipe Major Brian Heriot, a colleague of L-Sgt Walker, played My Home, traditional to the Scots Guards.

Canon Jude Harrison began the Catholic requiem Mass by saying: "It all began many moons ago at St Barnabas in Shettleston, Glasgow, where David was baptised," before inviting mourners to join him in singing "that great Scottish ballad" Amazing Grace.

Canon Harrison said he had spoken to L-Sgt Walker's mother, who told him: "It's an honour to be his mother. In his life and death, his mum knew that David believed in what he did.

"'It's been an honour to be his mother' – what a phrase."

The soldier was father to five children, Darren, Sarah, Fiona, Trish and James, and the service also heard a tribute from them, with the words: "When we needed you, you were always there. You have been our hero right from the very start.

"Rest in peace, Dad, you will never be forgotten."

Lt-Col Lincoln Jopp MC, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, gave the eulogy. He said: "Wherever Davey Walker was, there would be tears, not tears of sadness, but tears of laughter from his irrepressible, impish and unique sense of humour."

Lt-Col Jopp brought laughter from mourners, saying L-Sgt Walker was fit as a butcher's dog and "just as handsome".

"I haven't got a big nose," he would say, 'just a small face'."

He could also be a "bit of a hand grenade", loved Celtic and was a "loyal Tim", deploying his "killer one-liners and quick-fire banter" while watching Old Firm games with Rangers fans.

"He inspired an almost mythical following amongst young guardsmen," he added.

&#149 A total of 272 British forces personnel or MoD civilians have died serving in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001.