HUNDREDS of people attended the funeral service for Warrington soldier Tom Sephton – the third serviceman from the town to die as a result of injuries received while serving in Afghanistan.
Private Sephton’s coffin was carried into St Elphin’s Parish Church by fellow soldiers and tributes were paid to the 20-year-old who had died while saving the lives of others.
Prior to that the funeral cortege processed from his home at Great Sankey to the church, escorted by police.
Veterans from previous conflicts were present at the church to pay their own respects and the service was related to people who gathered outside.
Afterwards the cortege continued to Walton Lea Crematorium where final committal took place.
Tom, of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was on foot patrol in Helmand Province on July 4 when he was injured in a bomb blast while protecting other soldiers clearing improved explosive devices.
He was airlifted to Camp Bastion and later to Birmingham where, despite treatment, he died the following day..
His best friend, Private Charles Emina said he was a “true hero.”
He said: “Sefo was my closest friend in the world – we were like brothers. He was always the life and soul wherever he went.
“He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.”
Pvt. Sephton enlisted into the Army in July 2008 and joined the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)in January 2009 following the Combat Infantryman’s Course in Catterick. He joined Mortar Platoon and served in the United Kingdom, The Falkland Islands and Kenya, and on operations in Afghanistan.
