Mum of Brit squaddie ‘accidentally killed by fellow soldier’ while fighting ISIS in Iraq gives moving tribute at military honours funeral
Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington died while on an operation to train local forces
THE MUM of a British squaddie who was "accidentally killed by fellow soldier" while fighting ISIS in Iraq has given a moving tribute at military honours funeral for her son.
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, who was killed earlier this month in Iraq on an operation to train local forces to battle the brutal terror group.
The tragic 22-year-old had recently become a dad to a baby girl Safaya-Rose on October 12 last year.
His mother Anne told the service at All Saints and Martyrs Church, in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in a touching eulogy today that she was "feeling like I could burst with pride" for her son.
She promised his young daughter would "know her daddy, love her daddy and be proud of her daddy," her words ending, "sleep tight my love, see you in the sunset and the sunrise".
His partner, Savannah Brown - mother to their daughter - attended the ceremony along with his parents Anne and Jason, who walked behind the hearse bearing floral tributes to Son and Daddy.
Hundreds more mourners waited outside ahead of the service, as a guard of honour of his comrades from the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster Regiment stood to attention.
Six more soldiers from his unit acted as pall bearers, as his coffin, draped in the union flag was borne into the church to the music of Tenerife by Ed Sheeran.
Dozens of mourners outside the packed church stood in biting winds to listen to the service relayed outside on a public address system.
L/Cpl Hetherington, who had a twin sister, Sian, died on January 2, while on a tour of duty in Iraq helping to train local forces to battle the terror group Islamic State.
His death at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, has been described as a "tragic incident" and not the result of enemy action.
A Ministry of Defence investigation is under way.
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Colleagues of L/Cpl Hetherington, nicknamed "Snowball", were overcome by tears as the service began and were hugged by members of the public.
Father Philip Miller told mourners the fallen soldier was a local lad, who had been in the church youth brigade as a boy before joining up to serve in the Army.
He read a short eulogy from the soldier's mother, who said today she was "feeling like I could burst with pride" for her son.
She promised his young daughter would "know her daddy, love her daddy and be proud of her daddy," her words ending, "sleep tight my love, see you in the sunset and the sunrise".
L/Cpl Hetherington, who also served in the Falklands and Kenya, was a "superb soldier" and "first class leader" his commanding officers said after his death - and during the service he was described in more personal terms as a fun-loving and friendly young man.
Padre Simon Bloxam-Rose read words from L/Cpl Hetherington's father Jason, telling how they enjoyed "Dad and lad" time together at football and cricket, before ending: "I'm proud to call you my son."
The padre ended his eulogy with the words: "There are many kinds of sorrow in this world and love and hate, but there's no sterner sorrow than a solider for his mate. Amen."
After hymns and prayers, the service concluded with the national anthem.
L/Cpl Hetherington was one of 150 soldiers from his battalion deployed to Iraq for six months late last year to form part of the 500-strong British Army force, which was being sent to the country to train Iraqi and Kurdish security forces.
His battalion was providing protection to other British troops training the local security forces in infantry skills, weapons maintenance, medical, engineering and counter IED measures.
Following the funeral service, the soldier's hearse left the church accompanied by police motorbike outriders for a private interment for family and friends only.
An inquest opening into Scott's death today heard how he died as a result of a "negligent discharge of a weapon by another soldier" causing a fatal gunshot wound to his abdomen.
It isn't clear if the soldier who discharged the weapon was British or another nationality.
Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter said: "He died close to Role Two Field Hospital in Camp Taji, Iraq, after receiving a gunshot wound to his abdomen at 4.51pm.
"This case is obviously subject to further investigation.
"The information available at this stage indicates that he was killed by what is described as a negligent discharge of a weapon by another solider."
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