BY Ian Dunn | November 3 | 4 COMMENTS print
Community mourns for Glasgow soldier killed in car crash
Mourners asked to wear a poppy to Corporal Nicholas Kerr's funeral Mass today at St Teresa’s Church, Possilpark
The funeral for a soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan is being held this morning St Teresa’s Church, Possilpark, near Glasgow.
Corporal Nicholas Kerr, 30, (above) originally from Glasgow and stationed at Jellalabad Barracks in Tidworth, was killed in a car accident in Hampshire last Tuesday.
He had been driving along the B3400 towards Andover when his car left the road, overturned and landed in a river at Hurstbourne Priors, near Whitchurch. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash came just four days after he had completed a 450-mile charity bike ride with seven of his colleagues to mark his 30th birthday.
His father Frank Kerr, 53 said his family was devastated by the loss. “We are all just in shock,” he said. “He was just such a loveable guy.”
Corporal Kerr attended the Queen Victoria boarding school, funded by the Ministry of Defence, in Dunblane. His father, mother Sheila, 51, and sister Stacey Stennett, 27, intend to scatter his ashes there.
He followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the army, signing up with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in April 2001 as an armoured vehicle mechanic. Following his basic and trade training he was posted to 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales and he completed an operational tour of Iraq with the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. In 2006 he was posted to 4 Close Support Battalion REME and was deployed to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Canada.
Lieutenant Colonel Neil Thorpe, Corporal Kerr’s commanding officer, said: “He epitomised everything that is good about our REME non commissioned officers—passionate about his trade, loyal and respectful to all, and living life to the full.”
“He leaves a gaping hole within the platoon and will be sorely missed by us all,” platoon commander Captain Simon Dickson added.
Following Mass at St Teresa’s Church the funeral cortage will go to Glasgow Crematorium, Maryhill.
The family has asked, in lieu of flowers, that any donations be made to Help for Heroes.
They have also asked mourners to wear a poppy.
My sincere condolences on the loss of your son and my grateful thanks for the donation to H4H. I’m sure that Nicholas would be proud to have contributed to the recovery of some of his colleagues and friends.
Mike Dickinson Scottish Regional Coordinator Help for Heroes
Requiescat in pace, Nicholas.
God bless the family my heart goes out to u all may he rest in the hands of God for all he has done
I was lucky enough to get to Know Nic really well earlier this year and l know he will be sorely missed. An amazing man who made a real impact in my life. Love you Nic xx