Mourners watched in silence today as a Union flag-draped coffin of an Oxfordshire Army bomb disposal expert was carried into church by members of his regiment.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary O’Donnell, a member of the 11 Explosive Ordnance Regiment, part of the Royal Logistic Corps, based at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot, died in an explosion in Afghanistan last month. Yesterday afternoon, police closed the road to the church in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and escorted the funeral procession, led by an undertaker at walking pace, to the service, as a piper played.

Members of the regiment then carried the coffin the few metres from the hearse into St Peter The Apostle Catholic Church, past rifle-bearing servicemen and women who bowed their heads.

WO O’Donnell, who was awarded the George Medal for his work in Iraq in 2006 and had almost 17 years of military experience, died on September 10 in Helmand province.

The funeral service was conducted by Father Andrew Lloyd, Senior Chaplain at 43 (Wessex) Brigade.

Capt Dom Prtak, a fellow member of the regiment, read the collect for the Royal Logistic Corps, which asked God that “wherever we serve... we may sustain our comrades”.

Later WO O’Donnell’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Maybery, shared his memories of the soldier.

The congregation listened as the Last Post was played before shots were fired outside the church.

A cremation attended by close family was held afterwards at Oakley Wood Crematorium, near Leamington.