Final salute to soldier

The lance corporal was caught in a blast

A Scottish soldier who died after a mine explosion in Iraq has been buried with full military honours.

Lance Corporal James McCue, 27, died as a result of injuries caused by the explosion in the south of the country on 30 April.

A funeral service took place at St Charles Roman Catholic Church in Paisley, followed by interment at Hawkhead Cemetery.

Lance Corporal McCue had been serving with 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

In one of his last communications home to his family, he spoke with compassion of the difficult conditions in which many found themselves, especially the children

Father Peter McGarry

Six soldiers from the lance corporal's company were flown back from Iraq to carry the coffin.

One of them, Lance Corporal Rob Murdoch, was in the area when the explosion happened.

He suffered shock but has made a full recovery.

The coffin was draped in the Union Flag and carried the soldier's red beret, white belt and a white wreath.

A firing party stood to attention as the coffin was carried into the packed church for a requiem mass.

Military personnel attending the funeral included Brigadier Andrew Jackson, who represented the Army in Scotland.

Among the wreaths in the hearse was one on which the word "Dad" was spelled out in white carnations.

The message read: "Daddy, thank you for making the world a safer place for us to grow up in. Big hugs, Alexander and Hannah xxxx."

A wreath from the soldier's children

The Bishop of Paisley, Bishop John Mone, welcomed mourners and the mass was said by Father Peter McGarry.

Mourners heard that the lance corporal was a "fit, lively, cheerful, fun-loving young man".

Fr McGarry added: "He also had his serious side. In one of his last communications home to his family, he spoke with compassion of the difficult conditions in which many found themselves, especially the children.

"Our prayers today turn to those closest to James. Our hearts go out to them."

At Hawkhead Cemetery, a lone piper from the Scots Guards played a slow lament as the hearse bore the coffin.

Last Post

The large crowd of family and friends and Army colleagues watched in the wind and rain as the Union Flag was carefully folded and removed from the coffin at trhe graveside.

The 12-man firing party fired three volleys of shots and the bugler sounded the Last Post before the piper played the traditional lament, The Flowers Of The Forest.

Then the lance corporal's mother, Mary McCue, placed a floral tribute at her son's grave.

Lance Corporal Murdoch folds the flag

After the ceremony Major Mark Chambers, second in command of 7 Air Assault Battalion, said: "James had shown himself to be a young man who only lived and worked to produce the highest standards.

"That was something he lived by up until the point that he was so tragically taken from us in an explosion in Iraq which prematurely ended his life.

"Throughout his time he had gained many friends and he was no one's enemy. He made a great impact on the battalion and he will be sorely missed."

Lance Corporal McCue was single but had two children from a previous relationship.

He joined the Army in April 1999 and had previously served in both Germany and Kosovo with 32 REME until August 2002, when he transferred to 7 Air Assault Battalion REME, stationed at Colchester Garrison.