Hundreds line streets to pay respects to Private Daniel Wade (From Warrington Guardian)

Hundreds line streets to pay respects to Private Daniel Wade

1:51pm Friday 11th May 2012 in News

HUNDREDS of mourners lined the streets for the funeral of a Warrington soldier and dad-to-be today.

Private Daniel Wade’s family and friends gathered in remembrance at St Elphin’s Church on Church Street in the rain and wind.

The 20-year-old died with five others on March 6 when their vehicle was destroyed by a bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

He leaves behind his fiancée Emma Hickman, aged 19, who is due to give birth to their daughter, Lexie, in June.

She said the happy trio nicknamed themselves ‘One’ ‘Two’ and ‘Three’.

On a hearse covered in flowers shaped like a Playstation and decorated with tomato ketchup packets, a card on Lexie’s behalf read: “To Daddy, my hero. I am so proud of you.

“Love always, your sleeping beauty, Lexie-Mai Louise, number three.”

The coffin was carried into the church by comrades from his unit, as the song ‘Wherever You Will Go’ by Charlene Soraia rang out.

Private Wade’s mother, Lisa, led the mourners past an Honour Guard formed by local members of the Royal British Legion.

“Daniel was an amazing, loyal caring young man. From the day he was born he was everything. I could burst with pride,” she said.

“As a child, he loved Action Man. He said he was going to be one.”

The Private signed up for the army in 2011, and had been in Afghanistan only a few weeks when he was killed.

Sgt Nigel Coupe, 33; Cpl Jake Hartley, 20; Pte Anthony Frampton, 20; Pte Christopher Kershaw, 19, and Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, also died in the blast.