JASON Mackie ‘stood with honour’ under his Royal Marines green beret.

Today his father Philip carried that same beret behind the 21-year-old’s coffin into St Mary’s Church in Bampton as tributes were paid to a soldier who had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Marine Mackie was killed instantly on May 14 when his vehicle struck an explosive device in Helmand, Afghanistan.

More than 150 friends, family and colleagues packed the church for his funeral while many others listened outside.

Six Royal Marines carried his coffin into the church, with Mr Mackie following behind as the song Forever Young, by Alphaville, played.

Marine Mackie’s mother Lee, brothers Richard, 26, and Alastair, 23, and fiancee Victoria Baynes, 22, then followed.

During the service Jason’s brother, Second Lieutenant Richard Mackie, wearing his Royal Marine uniform, stood up to talk about his little brother. He said: “On this day, let us not remember what Jason died for but what he lived for. He lived for his family and his friends.

“We all drew great strength from his radiant character. He stood with honour under his green beret and served the corps selflessly. He is a great tribute to us as a family and to the wider corps family who have been so supportive through this hard time.”

He ended with a poem picked by Miss Baynes — Death is Nothing At All by Canon Henry Scott-Holland.

After the Last Post sounded, rifles were fired outside the church.

Marine Mackie was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and his family moved to Bampton in 2002.

He joined the Royal Marines two years ago and was serving as a Viking All-Terrain Vehicle Operator in the 3rd Armoured Support Group when he was killed.

Dad Philip Mackie said: “I loved him dearly as a child and as he grew to manhood my pride in him was overwhelming.”

Mrs Mackie called her son the “light of my life” and “full of energy.”

Alastair added: “It is such a terrible loss, but he was doing what he loved.”

Miss Baynes said: “As well as a tremendously wicked sense of humour, Jason had great strength of character.

“These memories of him are giving me great strength.”

Major Richard Hopkins, Marine Mackie’s commanding officer, added: “This young commando was a dedicated Royal Marine and a colourful, cheerful and enthusiastic young man who I will always remember for his sense of fun and everlasting grin.”

His cremation took place in Swindon.

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk