Hundreds Morn Heroic Soldier
Morners gather in Hereford for the funeral of Afghanistan Hero who was killed on 20th August in Helmand Province - by InSITE Reporter Toni Hedley
Hundereds of people gathered at Hereford Cathedral on 14th September 2009 to pay their respects towards Sergeant McAleese 29, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who died in a bomb blast attempting to rescue Private Johnathon Young, who also died in the blast.
Sergeant McAleese was the son of SAS soldier John McAleese, who led a raid ending a siege at the Iranian Embassy in 1980. Sjt Paul McAleese often expressed his wish to follow in his fathers footsteps and join the SAS. Many of McAleese’s superiors highlighted his huge potential in the forces, stating that he was a natural soldier who rose through the ranks quickly; the envy of the rest of the Battalion.
His father John, wife Joanne, 4 month old son Charley, several other family members and thousands of mourners watched as the union jack was folded, a salvo of shots were fired and his coffin was placed into the horse drawn hearse. As the hearse made its way out of the cathedral green followed by the family applause broke out among the crowd.
