Mourners pay tribute to James Munday

Oct 28 2008

HUNDREDS of mourners today stood in silence to pay tribute to Trooper James Munday who died in action in Afghanistan earlier this month.

The 21-year-old soldier, from Birmingham, who was also a friend of Princes William and Harry died on October 15 when a routine patrol was hit by an explosion.

Today, at St Peter and Paul’s Church, in Coleshill, more than 500 friends, family and soldiers paid final tribute to a man known for his “lovely smile” and his “gracious and caring nature”.

Leading the entourage was James’s mother, Caroline Munday, sister Laura-Jayne Blackmore, grandfather Colin Mann and two of his brothers Robert and Steven Blackmore.

The coffin was brought into the church with a Union Jack flag draped over the top.

The service saw Major Bartle-Jones read out a passage from James’s last military report before a special poem titled Trooper James Munday - Her Majesty’s Life Guards.

Following the service a volley of shots were fired into the air as James’s body was buried in the neighbouring graveyard.