Around 600 people pay tribute to Vatubua

Around 600 people have gathered to pay tribute to 24 year old Private Joseva Vatubua who was the first soldier to be killed while on duty in Afghanistan on New Years day.

Vatubua was killed on January 1 in an explosion in the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

The BBC said the private memorial service for the soldier, originally from Fiji, was held at Canterbury Cathedral, where he had sung as a member of the battalion's Fijian Choir.

During the hour long service he was described as a "true Fijian Warrior", while Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Adam Griffiths said that Big Joe, as he was known by his comrades, had the biggest smile he had ever seen.

Two pipers played along with the battalion's regimental band, which had travelled from its headquarters in Edinburgh.

The service was also attended by members of Pte Vatubua's family, including his widow Claudette.

He had been part of an operation targeting known enemy firing positions north of the village of Saidabad Kalayk when he was killed by a bomb blast from the wall of a compound.

Story by: Roneel Lal
Source: BBC