Asia-Pacific

Memorial service for Australian soldier killed in Afghan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-14 11:27

CANBERRA - A memorial service for an Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan has being held in Tasmania of Australia on Monday.

Corporal Richard Atkinson, 22, was killed earlier this month by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. The combat engineer was working in a team searching for home-made explosives.

Earlier Monday morning, the Prime Minister Julie Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott flew in to attend the service at the St John's Anglican Church in Launceston of Northern Tasmania.

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The defense force chief Air Marshall Angus Houston and the army chief Lieutenant Ken Gillespie also attended the ceremony.

About 60 members of Corporal Atkinson's unit traveled from Darwin of Northern Territory for the service, amongst them were two of his mates currently serving in Afghanistan.

An honor guard of 30 soldiers presented his family with an Australian flag, a slouch hat and his medals.

Brigadier Gus McLachlan said Corporal Atkinson will be remembered for his selflessness and bravery.

"The combat team commander's -- over in Afghanistan -- words were he was his go-to guy; whenever there was danger it was Richard he would turn to," he told ABC News on Monday before the service started.

"When I've been speaking to Richard's parents, I've just absolutely honored their son and his service,

"They should be incredibly proud of who he was and what he did.

Brigadier McLachlan said Corporal Atkinson will also be remembered for his humor and mate-ship.

The service has been closed to the public.

Corporal Atkinson is survived by his fiancee Danielle and parents Ross and Kate Atkinson.

He was the 22nd Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2001.