Candles light church in memory of the six Britons killed by roadside bomb

Prayers have been said and candles lit at a sombre service in Yorkshire for the six soldiers killed in Afghanistan last week.

Halifax Minster was filled with people of all ages, many among them old soldiers proudly wearing their campaign medals, to remember the men who died when a Taleban roadside bomb destroyed a Warrior armoured vehicle in Helmand province on Tuesday.

The deadliest single enemy attack on UK forces in Afghanistan since 2001 killed Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, Private Anthony Frampton, 20, Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, Private Daniel Wade, 20, and Private Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

Four of the fallen soldiers came from the West Yorkshire area close to Halifax.

The ancient church houses Wellington’s regimental chapel, where hundreds of members of the public have signed a book of condolence and lit candles. Canon Hilary Barber, the vicar of Halifax, opened the service – described as evensong and a remembrance for the Yorkshire Regiment – and said the minster had borne witness to the Christian faith for 900 years.

“We come here now, to express our sorrow, to offer our solidarity with those soldiers who died, with those currently serving in Afghanistan and those who we know are preparing to leave these shores in April for their next six-month tour of duty,” he said.

On the altar, draped with the Duke of Wellington’s regimental flag, Canon Barber lit six candles, telling the congregation they were a reminder “of the six soldiers who died for their Queen and country during this past week”.

The names were read out as the candles were lit.

Cpl Hartley, from nearby Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, who had joined the battalion in December 2008, had been promoted ahead of his young years through his ability and promise, and was “destined to achieve great things”, his family said.

Pte “Anton” Frampton, 20, from Huddersfield, joined the army in January 2009 and was said to have “loved” his job. He was close friends with Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, also from Huddersfield, who trained as a gunner on the Warrior vehicle.

A candle was also lit for Pte Kershaw, from Bradford, the youngest of the six soldiers killed, then for Pte Wade, 20, from Warrington, Cheshire, whose fiancée is expecting their child.

Finally, the name of Sgt Coupe, 33, a father-of-two from Lytham St Annes, was read and his candle lit.