THE funeral of Steven Birdsall – the “perfect marine” according to his commanding officer – was attended by hundreds of mourners.
They included family, friends, colleagues from the Royal Marines and residents of Warrington who simply wished to show their respect and their sympathy to the 20-year-old’s family.
The service at St Elphin’s Parish Church was led by the Rector, Canon Michael Finlay assisted by the Rev James Tabor, padre of Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines.
Marine Birdsall’s coffin arrived at the church, draped in the Union flag and was borne by fellow Marines and given a guard of honour by local members of the Royal British Legion.
During the service, the Rev Tabor told the congregation: “He was loved deeply by all who knew him and he had a deep capacity to love them back. It is a measure of the man that we grieve so much today.”
He said Steven was a young man “full of talent” excelling at anything he put his mind to.
“He was the best he could be. That is true of Steven as a Royal Marine, as a friend, as a brother. He taught us that life is an important gift to be savoured.”
Brigadier Ged Salzano, commandant of the Commando Training Centre, said: “Steven was a highly respected and talented Royal Marine. He was also extremely well regarded as a young man. He was a man with a great deal of potential. He had aspirations to become a physical training instructor and I think he would have made an outstanding one.
“All of his colleagues are devastated by his loss. In a very close-knit community such as the Royal Marines, where we all know each other and share common values and experiences, the loss of any marine is very keenly felt. Steven’s family are extremely proud of his service in the Royal Marines – he accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time.”
Steven, a former pupil at Great Sankey High School, joined the Marines when he was 18 and passed out for duty in November 2008. He was deployed to Afghanistan in April and was based in northern Sangin in Helmand province. where he was shot by insurgents while protecting a group of Royal Engineers.
He was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, but he died the following day. He was the 296th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since 2001.
