Sister's tribute to 'hero soldier' at Afghanistan victim funeral

Private Charles David Murray, known as Dave, was a hero who had fulfilled his dream, his older sister Carrie said.

Pte Murray died alongside two colleagues from 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (2 Para) in a suicide attack in southern Afghanistan.

Their deaths on June 8 brought the total number of British service personnel killed in the country to 100 at the time.

Colleagues carry the coffin of Pte. Charles David Murray, the 100th British Army soldier to die in Afghanistan

More than 500 mourners attended Pte Murray's funeral at St James' Church, Carlisle.

His sister told the packed church that Pte Murray was her "little big brother".

She said: "He followed his heart, he fulfilled his dream and more. The Army provided Dave with friends who became family.

"Dave always made the most of every second, he taught us the meaning of life with his carefree ways and determination and dreams.

"We will carry you with us in our hearts forever which are overflowing with grief."

Sergeant Ryan Swindale, Pte Murray's former Army rugby coach, said: "He was a hell of a character, with a sense of humour second to none."

He said Pte Murray was a leader and earned the award of best recruit during his training.

The funeral service, led by Canon John Libby, the rector at St James', and the 2nd Battalion padre, Paul Green, was beamed to mourners on television screens in the adjacent church hall.

A video montage of photographs of the soldier was also broadcast.

Pte Murray's coffin, wrapped in the union flag with his beret resting on top, was carried in by six friends to the sound of Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler.
Veterans from the Parachute Regiment Association formed a guard of honour outside the church.

Canon Libby said Pte Murray was a 'tremendous guy' who went away to the Army as a teenager and came back a man.

'He went away to the Army as a teenager and came back a man': Pte Charles David Murray

Pte Murray's friend, Kirsty McAllister, read the poem Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep.

His uncle, Royal Marine Andrew Miller, also read a poem.

The congregation included Carla and Tom Cuthbertson, the parents of Sunderland soldier Pte Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, who died alongside Pte Murray.

His coffin was carried out by six members of his regiment. A maroon floral tribute in the hearse spelt out the words 'Our hero'.

Pte Murray was buried at Carlisle Cemetery where a bugler from the Parachute Regiment band played The Last Post and Reveille.

His young sister Ellie was the first mourner to throw red rose petals on his coffin.
Pte Murray followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and uncle in joining the forces.

He was serving as a rifleman and assault engineer when he died alongside two colleagues.

A lone insurgent targeted them when he blew himself up as they returned by foot to their base in the volatile Helmand Province.

Born in Dumfries, Pte Murray grew up in Carlisle and began his military career at an early age.

In 2005, at the age of 16 he attended the Army Foundation College in Harrogate before going on to join the Parachute Regiment in 2006.

He undertook specialist training as an infantry assault engineer within a year of joining his battalion, a course usually reserved for soldiers with great experience.

Pte Murray had been in Afghanistan for two months when he was killed.