A WHITEFIELD soldier killed in a training exercise was honoured with a full military funeral at the church where he was married five months ago.

Hundreds of people, including his pregnant wife and fellow soldiers, gathered at St Thomas And St John’s Church in Radcliffe, on Tuesday for the funeral of Fusilier James Wilkinson.

The 21-year-old died on November 26 after being shot in an Army training exercise in Kenya.

Fus Wilkinson, a member of the 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment Of Fusiliers (RRF), had completed six months training in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and was undergoing more training to prepare to go to Afghanistan.

He was given a full military funeral and his coffin was draped with the Union flag. Also placed on it was a belt, beret and hackle, a bouquet of flowers and a poppy wreath. In the hearse were floral tributes spelling “husband” and “daddy”.

Representatives from various military regiments and organisations formed a guard of honour outside the church and standards were lowered as the Fusiliers carrying his coffin walked past.

Among the mourners in a large procession of family and friends were his wife Sarah, aged 21, his parents Rob and Jan Wilkinson, and his sister Kirsty Wilkinson.

The church was full for a service led by the Rev Carol Hayden, who had also conducted Fus Wilkinson’s wedding.

She said: “The size of the congregation gathered here today is a tribute and a testament to the love and affection in which James was held. ”

Tributes were paid to the “cheeky chappy” who always had “a large grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye”.

Lieutenant Colonel Mike Butterwick, commanding officer of the 2nd battalion of the RRF, said Fus Wilkinson’s death was felt by the whole “regimental family”. He said: “James excelled during his period of training. What was unique about him was that wherever he served, he was respected by his peers and by his commanders.

“He loved what he did and he was very, very good at it. He had only been with us for a short period, but he had already appeared on my own radar. I am convinced that in 2012 he would have earned his first stripe. The Fusiliers have lost a brother in arms.”

The service also included a poem chosen by his sister, prayers, readings and hymns, including Amazing Grace, which had been sung at his wedding.

Fus Wilkinson was born in Gutersloh, in Germany, in 1990 into a military family, with his father Rob serving with the medical corps for 22 years. The family moved to the UK when he was aged 16.

He was a Manchester United fan and loved playing football, winning hundreds of trophies and medals.

Fus Wilkinson had always dreamed of joining the Army and he signed up at the age of 20. Love blossomed when he met his future wife Sarah, who lived in Radcliffe, at a party at a friend’s house. The couple were looking forward to a bright future and the birth of their daughter in February, whom they had decided to name Annabel.

After the service, the guard of honour formed outside the church. The funeral was followed by a service at East Lancashire Crematorium .