TAUNTON came to a standstill to say goodbye to Cpl Tom Gaden.

Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the 24-year-old’s funeral procession pass through the town in March, 2009.

Cpl Gaden was killed along with two other members of the 1st Battalion the Rifles when their Land Rover hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on February 25.

He died alongside L-cpl Paul Upton and Rfn Jamie Gunn while on route patrol in Gereshk destrict.

Cpl Gaden’s parents Judy and Nick, brother Sam, sister Ruth and pregnant fiancée Amanda, who at the time was expecting their second child together, joined family, friends and Army colleagues in a full military funeral at St Mary Magdalene Church.

Inside the church, people were greeted by a large photo of Cpl Gaden wearing full Army gear and a huge grin – opposite, a wreath of flowers spelt out the Rifles’ motto, Swift and Bold.

The Rev Roger Burt spoke of Cpl Gaden’s strong faith.

He added: “You could count on Tom as a son, as a father, and as a friend.”