Family pay tribute to ‘true Scottish soldier’ who was killed in car crash

Family and friends of a “ true Scottish soldier” who was killed in a car crash gathered for his funeral yesterday.

Fusilier Jamie Candlish died in the accident in Midlothian earlier this month.

The 20-year-old, of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots), returned from Afghanistan in April.

He was a passenger in the car which had just left Glencorse barracks in Penicuik when it crashed on Friday, 19 August. He died at the scene.

The driver of the car is in intensive care.

Fellow soldiers from the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Royal British Legion lined the street outside Hillhouse Parish Church in the soldier’s native Hamilton as his coffin was borne to the funeral.

Draped in the Union flag with a wreath of poppies, the coffin was carried into the church in silence.

Fusilier Candlish’s section commander, Corporal Daniel Phillipson, wept as he shared memories of his comrade.

He said: “During our time out in Afghanistan he went from being this relatively inexperienced soldier straight out of training to the guy we all knew and had the pleasure of serving with.

“He was the kind of soldier a section commander prays for: someone you trust, someone who is passionate about the army and someone you can rely on. He was a caring and loyal friend. He was brave in battle: a true Scottish soldier.”