Chief praises soldier's bravery

Capt John McDermid's coffin is carried from the cathedral

A soldier's decision to volunteer for operations in Afghanistan shortly after a posting to a UK training academy was praised by his commanding officer.

Captain John McDermid was killed while on patrol in the Helmand Province.

The 43-year-old's funeral was held at Inverness Cathedral. During the service his wife Gill read WH Auden's poem "Stop all the Clocks".

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Harkness said it was in Capt McDermid's nature to put himself forward for operations.

The soldier, originally from Glasgow, served with The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

He was posted to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in early 2007 and while there he volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan where he was attached to the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

Like all good professional soldiers this is what we do for our country so that others may live in peace and harmony in this country Lt Col Paul Harkness Medal honour for soldiers

Capt McDermid was killed when a blast hit his patrol in Sangin, Helmand Province on 14 November.

He leaves his wife Gill, a police officer from the Highlands, and three sons.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered at St Andrew's Cathedral on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness on Monday.

By coincidence, a ceremony was being held later in the town house in honour of members of the Highland Gunners following their six-month deployment to Helmand.

Before the service, Lt Col Harkness, commanding officer of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, paid tribute to Capt McDermid who had risen through the ranks from a private to a commissioned officer.

Lt Col Harkness said: "We are gathered here today to give honour to one of Scotland's sons, to the husband to Gill, to a father of three boys.

Captain John McDermid and his wife Gill, a police officer

"It is a sad day for all of us, but we do it with dignity and pride to see off in style one of those people who have sacrificed everything for this country.

"John was one of the most professional soldiers I had ever come across and one of the best people that the army produce."

Asked what kind of man Capt McDermid had been, Lt Col Harkness said: "A son of Glasgow, a fantastic man, admired and adored by all.

"He started life as a fusilier and 21 years later was a regimental sergeant major. He was then commissioned into the regiment he loved and had worked so hard for.

"It was very much in John's nature to volunteer, a professional soldier like John would volunteer immediately for an operational tour like Afghanistan.

"Like all good professional soldiers this is what we do for our country so that others may live in peace and harmony in this country."