The funeral of Rhymney solider Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, was held on Saturday.
The service at Penuel Baptist Church in Rhymney was led by Father Mark Owen and Lieutenant Colonel Steven Griffith, padre at 160 (Wales) Brigade.
Family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to to the 31-year-old solider who was killed last month. People also lined the streets.
In a statement, his mother Cherry, stepfather Robert, father Raymond and sisters Lisa and Emma paid tribute.
It read: “His family are extremely proud of him and of the good work he carried out.
“They will miss him terribly but take great comfort in the fact he was loved and respected by all who met him – especially family, friends and colleagues.
“He will remain in their hearts as his memory lives on.”
L/Cpl Scanlon, 31, was killed alongside colleague Lt David Boyce.
The 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards were providing security in Helmand province at the time.
The soldiers had been serving with the Formation Reconnaissance Squadron and were caught in the explosion while in the Yakchal region of Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.
Lance Corporal Scanlon joined the Army in November 1998. He passed out of training in October 1999 and joined his Regiment, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards in Catterick..
Lieutenant Colonel Jasper de Quincey Adams, Commanding Officer, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, said: “Richard Scanlon was one of life’s great characters.
“He was a fighting soldier, cracking in the field or on operations, and in camp, his flamboyant character meant he could find fun in any situation.
“We will miss him terribly.”