Today I went to Bangor and attended the Funeral Service for David Gordon Dalzell, the Royal Irish Regiment Ranger who died two weeks ago in a fiendly fire incident while serving in Afganistan. His passing out parade had been in June and he had only joined the Royal Irish a week before they deployed to the Nad-e-Ali region of Helmand Province. James O'Fee had asked me specially to come because of my association with Bangor and the Royal Irish Regiment.

David's family released a statement after his tragic death. It read:” As well as our huge loss which has devastated the family, the other soldier must also be suffering and our thoughts are with him as well.We have been told there is an investigation by the Army's Special Investigation Branch (SIB) under way and we hope to learn much more from that”.

Family and friends of the former Ballyholme Primary and Bangor Academy pupil were joined by army colleagues and local dignitaries at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church which began at noon. The service was a particularly moving one,which was led by Assistant Minister David Leach and the Regimental Padre S. W. Van Os, Chaplain 1 Royal Irish. Emotional tributes were given by brothers and friends and I was particularly struck by that of his girl friend Debbie.

I sat in a section which included the Lord Lieutenant of County Down, David Lindsay; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Patterson; Senior Army, Navy and Police Personnel, The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson; Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for North Down; Councillor John Montgomery, the Mayor of North Down and Sir Ronnie Flanagan, former Home Office Chief Officer of Constabulary of the United Kingdom.

We left the Church opposite the Carnegie Library, where I spent much of my childhood, as I passed it every day on the way to Bangor Grammar School. Outside, the street was lined by thosands of people standing in silent tribute. Every few yards there were standard bearers of the British Legion, a trully wonderful sight. The Military Funeral procession then made its way through Bangor town centre before moving on to Clandeboye Cemetery where David was buried with full military honours.

I spoke afterwards to Gordon and Susan, his mother and father, and offered my sincrere condolences to the family. Then to my Officer friends in the Royal Irish Regiment , who help us every year with our Somme Ceremonies. Finally I asked the Secretary of State if he was accompanying us to the Somme this year for the 95th Anniversary of the Battle. He said he would. I do hope he does. We must never forget these young people who gave up their today for our tomorrow.