Family mourns Scots soldier killed on duty

A BOY aged seven yesterday watched as the body of his soldier father was repatriated back to Britain.

• Soldiers salute as Lee, son of of L-Cpl Joseph Pool, left, places a rose on the hearse carrying his father's body Picture: PA

Lance-Corporal Joseph Pool, of The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, died during a rocket-propelled grenade attack in the Nad-e-Ali district of Afghanistan on 5 September.

His fiance, Lynsey Houston, comforted their seven-year-old son Lee as the coffin passed through the town of Wootton Bassett after the repatriation ceremony.

Hardened Scottish soldiers wept in the street as they watched the coffin of their fallen comrade pass.

L-Cpl Pool, 26, from Greenock, had been part of a team carrying out searches on compounds.

Sergeant Gavin Conington, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, served with L-Cpl Pool in the anti-tank platoon for four years. He said: "He'll be massively missed. He was a great friend along with being a great soldier.

"He w a great guy and a great soldier to work with."