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Hundreds pay respect to hero soldier Liam Riley - VIDEO
THEY came to welcome home a Sheffield hero and the army pal he was trying to save when he lost his life.
Corporal Liam Riley, aged 21, died when he stepped on to a roadside bomb as he bravely tried to save Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, 27, who had stepped on a similar device just moments before.
Both soldiers were members of the same patrol stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, with the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.
Many of their friends from the regiment gathered in Wootton Bassett, standing side by side with relatives as the bodies of the fallen soldiers were repatriated.
VIDEO: Press the play button to watch video of Cpl Liam Riley and L/Cpl Graham Shaw's repatriation.
They were joined by more mates, Cpl Riley's travelling from Sheffield, and L/Cpl Shaw's from Huddersfield.
Residents, shopkeepers and ex-servicemen followed recent tradition by lining the high street in their hundreds to pay their respects.
Crowds started to gather on the village's narrow main street from early in the morning.
Cpl Riley's aunt, Angela Stephens, who lives in Milton Keynes, had been there since 8am, another aunt, Susan Geraghty from Mansfield, arrived just an hour later.
A third aunt, Marie Gregg of Manvers Road, Beighton, came later - on one of the coaches and mini buses which travelled the 180 miles to Wiltshire. All three, clutching floral tributes, were amazed by how many people had turned out.
Marie said: "So many people loved Liam. We all wanted to be here when he came home.
"I'd like to thank Killamarsh Community Trust who paid for a coach and other transport to ensure so many could make it."
Angela added: "He was a wonderful lad, very honest, trustworthy and would do anything for anybody.
"From being a child, he always had a sword and a gun. His ambition was to be a soldier when he grew up and he has fulfilled that ambition."
Prince Harry has paid tribute to Cpl Riley with whom he served at a military training unit in Canada in 2007, describing him as a "legend" and a "really special man".
Angela added: "It meant a lot to the family that Harry took the time to pay tribute to Liam.
"He is a legend, he always will be."
Standing by the roadside clutching a Wednesday shirt signed by all Cpl Riley's army mates were Privates Matthew Curr from Wincobank and Philip Morris from Barnsley.
Others carried the white rose of Yorkshire in tribute to their fallen friend.
Private Curr said: "I shared a room with Liam at Warminster. He was top, always up for a laugh and the type of lad who never put himself first.
"I'm a Blade but Liam was such a Wednesdayite and such a pal that I'm happy to be holding a blue and white shirt for once in his honour."
As the clock ticked around to 1pm veterans, squaddies, high ranking officers and local dignitaries joined ordinary people of all ages from Yorkshire and Wiltshire to line the high street.
Wootton Bassett Mayor Steve Bucknell said: "I have come to so many repatriations, some 110 in total, and each one has been different because each of these brave soldiers is different.
"We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with their families and friends and by those who continue to serve."
Leather-clad veterans from the British Legion Motorbike Club joined former comrades. Ken Teasedale, 70, a veteran of the Suez conflict, has been a member of every repatriation gathering.
The former RAF and Navy man said: "There can be no greater sacrifice than laying your life down for your country.
"We may not know them personally but we will continue to honour them with our greatest respect."
Cpl Riley's closest family - mum Cheryl, dad Mick and brother Jonjo - arrived at 1.40pm.
At 1.47pm the church bell rang and the usually busy high street cleared of traffic and fell silent.
On command standard bearers held aloft the colours of different regiments and branches of the Royal British Legion.
Shortly afterwards police motorbike outriders preceded the arrival of the cortege.
The two hearses, the first carrying the body of the former Westfield schoolboy who grew up in Beighton before moving to Killamarsh, the other bearing that of his friend L/Cpl Shaw.
Both coffins were draped with the Union Flag.
The hearses paused by the town's war memorial, then they were gone - leaving behind a crowd united in grief and pride.
And no-one was prouder than Cpl Riley's grandfather, Jack Davison.
He said: "I'd like to thank the Army who have treated us all so very well, Liam's mates, and the people of Wootton Bassett for coming today.
"They have restored my faith in human nature."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
