Funeral for hero Capt Dan Read from Rainham

THE funeral of bomb disposal hero Capt Dan Read is due to take place in Cornwall today (Thursday).

The 31-year-old former Rainham Mark Grammar pupil, who was serving with the Royal Logistics Corps, was killed in Afghanistan on January 11.

He leaves a widow Lorraine, known as Lou, with whom he lived near Newquay, and close family in Rainham.

The service will take place at Truro Cathedral.

Capt Read joined the Royal Engineers as a sapper in 1996 before applying for a commission with the Royal Logistics Corps.

He completed his course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on 2004 and December 2004 and completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2006.

Capt Read returned to the country in 2009, where he was injured in a blast in October, but he was determined to rejoin his unit after recovering from his wounds.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex said: "Dan epitomised the values of selfless commitment, loyalty and deep-seated courage.

"His return after injury is but one example that could be used to illustrate Dan's tremendous physical and mental courage, but for those who knew him you simply had to see the cheeky grin or hear him say 'no dramas' in the face of a daunting task to know that nothing could faze him."

"He made the ultimate sacrifice, but his actions have saved countless numbers of the lives of both his fellow soldiers and the Afghans whom he fought to protect."