Father's funeral tribute to hero son

Pte Gamble, of the elite 2 Para regiment, was the platoon linguist and could speak the Afghani language of Pashto.

He died on June 8 in a suicide bombing while on foot patrol in Helmand Province - just two weeks before his 23rd birthday.

At his funeral yesterday (Thursday), Pte Gamble was hailed a hero and buried with full military honours.

Shops closed for the afternoon and footage of the funeral was broadcast from the packed church to a huge plasma screen in the graveyard, watched by hundreds.

The Rev Chris Howarth said Daniel would be remembered as a hero, and called for the war in Afghanistan to continue.

He said: 'Daniel died heroically, a young man doing his duty in the service of his country, for peace, for justice.

'He believed his presence in a country threatened with losing its democratic freedom was making a difference.

'We must hold true to that, and make sure the job is completed.

'Freedom and democracy do not just happen by chance. The fact we take it for granted so easily denies the fact that so many lives were lost in its defence in years gone by.'

He added: 'We say our prayers for Daniel and his loved ones, and for those others who have given their lives in service to Queen and Country - especially Nathan and Charles, who died alongside Daniel.

'We also pray for those who are still ready to face these dangers for the security of the world, even as we speak.

'Pte Daniel Gamble, your name will live on in this church and this community for all time.'

Pte Gamble's dad Paul told the congregation of 400: 'When we received a phone call from Dan in Afghanistan, he would always say how busy he was. We knew this was code meaning he was coming under heavy fire daily.

'But he knew he had the upper hand, and never once said he was scared. All he ever talked about was the heat, the huge spiders, his beloved car and what he was going to be doing when he came home in July.

'He was an extremely brave young man. If he could have chosen a death, he would have chosen the one he got - killed doing the job he was proud to do, alongside the friends he knew he could rely on to give their lives for him.

'He gave his life for them, and all of us. He surely is a man among men and a hero forever.'