Military honours for holiday tragedy soldier

A "GIFTED soldier" who died while on holiday in Portugal was described as a "tremendous young man" as he received a full military funeral yesterday.

Lance Corporal Darren Lackie, 21, of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots), died two weeks ago in the resort of Albufeira where he was on holiday with his girlfriend, Ashleigh Wilson.

Around 600 mourners packed the church in his home town of Cupar, Fife, for the funeral, where they heard of an "immensely keen and loyal soldier" whose motto in life was "the brave don't live long, but the cautious don't live at all".

LCpl Lackie's coffin was draped with a union flag, with his military medals from Northern Ireland and Afghanistan placed on top alongside his belt and glengarry.

On the final page of the order of service the words "laugh now, cry later" were written.