The last salute: Moving pictures as war veterans gather to pay their respects to RAF aircraftmen killed in Afghanistan

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Now they gathered to show their respect for two of their own.

In a sombre display of honour and appreciation these old veterans lined up in silence to salute the passing hearses of the two aircraftmen who were killed in a bomb blast last Sunday.

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Upright and dressed in their military caps these veterans braved the cold to show their respects for the two fallen heroes

The streets were lined with mourners as the funeral procession passed through the town

As the coffins carrying the bodies of Afghanistan heroes Gary Thompson and Graham Livingstone were driven slowly through the streets of Wooton Bassett yesterday, dozens gathered to showed their respect for their two fallen comrades.

Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson, 51, is the oldest British serviceman to lose his life in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mr Thompson served with the RAF in the 1970s before setting up his own business specialising in ventilation materials.

He re-enlisted as a reservist in 2005.

He died when his patrol was blown up by a roadside bomb on Sunday.

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The coffins of the two dead RAF aircraftmen were driven slowly through Wooton Bassett

Last week his daughters spoke of their love for the man they called "the best dad in the world".

He was also a hero, according to open letters released by his daughters Laurie, 23, Aimee, 21, Jordan, 19, Jade, 17, and Kelly, 16.

Kelly said the RAF reservist "devoted his life to the happiness of his family and friends". She added: "My dad is a hero and not one day passes that we are not proud of him. He'll stay in my heart and my memory as the man we all love."

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SAC Thompson, 51, right, was fatally wounded along with fellow serviceman SAC Livingstone

Aimee said her father was "the best dad in the world", while Jordan said he had "the biggest heart and cared about his family and friends so much".

She added: "I loved him with all my heart and will miss him forever. He is my hero and I am so proud."

Kelly said the RAF reservist "devoted his life to the happiness of his family and friends".

Mr Livingstone joined the RAF in 2004 and had served in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan.

The British death toll in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion is now 93.