Diggers honoured by former school mates

12 Sep 2012, 5:31 pm   -   Source: AAP

Two Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan last month have been farewelled at two separate ceremonies in Brisbane and Canberra.

One was a young son, the other a father of two.

But both Private Robert Poate and Lance Corporal Stjepan "Rick" Milosevic have been remembered as committed and hard-working soldiers in separate funeral services at their old schools on Wednesday.

The pair, alongside Sapper James Martin, were gunned down by a rogue Afghan soldier at a patrol base in Oruzgan province on August 29.

Family, friends and defence personnel gathered at Lance Corporal Milosevic's former college in Brisbane to farewell the 44-year-old in a private ceremony and burial.

Mates from his Light Horse regiment and current students of Marist College provided a guard of honour, while a riderless horse - a symbol of mourning - led the funeral procession.

The corporal's commanding officer delivered a heartfelt eulogy, assuring the dead soldier's two young daughters their father's memory would be honoured.

"In his four years of service, Rick lived the values that professional soldiers aspire to and he served with honour, courage and commitment," Lieutenant Colonel Mark Welburn said.

"To Sarah and Kate: I would like to tell you that your father was a great soldier and you can be exceptionally proud of him.

"The example he set others and the way he served his nation has touched all of us.

"We thank you for the time you shared him with us and we promise you we will honour him."

In the ACT, more than 800 mourners filled the chapel and grounds of Canberra Grammar School to commemorate the life of former student Private Poate.

Among them were colleagues from the 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and a group of school mates, who carried the 23-year-old's coffin - draped in white flowers, an Australian flag and a slouch hat.

His parents, Hugh and Janny, and sister Nicola, struggled to hold back tears as members of the firing party offered a three-gun salute after the service.

A guard of honour was formed by hundreds of senior school students and staff to escort the private's coffin out of the school grounds atop a gun carriage.

Private Poate's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jennings, said the young soldier's service, mateship and courage as a "warrior" would never be forgotten.

"His reputation as a red-headed larrikin among his mates and his dependability was known to all around him," Lt Col Jennings said in a moving eulogy.

"Despite being a junior soldier, he was a hard worker with solid potential and enthusiasm."

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