Funeral service for RAF commander

Wing Commander John Coxen is the most senior officer killed in Iraq

Family and friends of the most senior British officer killed in action in Iraq attended his funeral service in Oxfordshire on Wednesday.

Wing Cdr John Coxen, 46, was among five personnel killed when their Lynx helicopter crashed near Basra on 6 May.

Wing Cdr Coxen, originally from Liverpool, joined the RAF in 1983 and was based at RAF Benson. The ceremony took place at Dorchester Abbey.

The funeral of Royal Marine Paul Collins, from Devon, was also held.

A truly devoted husband, John enjoyed family life to the full Group Captain Duncan Welham

Paul Collins, 21, from Dawlish, was door gunner in the Lynx helicopter when it crashed.

The ceremony was at the Commando training base at Lympstone, Devon.

Group Captain Duncan Welham, of RAF Benson, described Wing Cdr Coxen as "humble and courageous".

He said: "A truly devoted husband, John enjoyed family life to the full with his wife Agnes and will be sadly missed."

On Tuesday more than 450 mourners packed into Canterbury Cathedral for the funeral of another victim of the crash - Flt Lt Sarah Mulvihill, 32.

The other personnel who died were pilots Lt Cdr Darren Chapman, 40, and Cpt David Dobson, 27. They were all stationed at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.