Soldier's widow weeps for 'soulmate'

The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan described him as her "soulmate" and "world" at his funeral.

Rifleman Martin Lamb, of 1st Battalion The Rifles, died in a bomb blast while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district on 5 June.

A full military funeral service took place for the 27-year-old, known as "Lamby", at St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Cam, Dursley, Gloucestershire.

A dozen standard bearers lined the entrance to the church and slowly lowered their standards as the hearse approached the church and they bowed their heads.

Seventy members of Rfn Lamb's family, who mostly live locally, attended the funeral along with friends and colleagues who packed the church, which holds 180 people, spilling outside.

Rfn Lamb's Union flag-draped coffin was carried into the church by his fellow soldiers to the sound of Aerosmith's I don't wanna miss a thing.

Rfn Lamb, who grew up in Dursley, leaves wife Melissa, "cherished" two-year-old daughter Rosie, mother Avril Pennington, stepfather Lloyd Pennington, brother Ricky and father Jonathan.

Speaking inside the church, Melissa broke down in tears as she paid tribute to her husband.

She describing him as "caring, kind, happy, devoted, hard working and an amazing daddy".

"My darling Lamby, you were my soulmate, my world, every day I will miss you, but we have Rosie and with Rosie your spirit will live on," she said.

"When I look at her I see you and that gives me the strength to carry on.

"It was an honour to be married to you and to share all our experiences, like our wedding day, the birth of our baby girl, there are so many that I will treasure and tell Rosie."