Final honours for keen soldier and loving son

Dec 30 2008 By Rod Minchin, The Journal

A NORTH East Royal Marine killed by a teenage suicide bomber has been laid to rest in his home town.

Sergeant John Manuel, 38, known to his family as Jacky, died with two comrades when a 13-year-old boy detonated a wheelbarrow of explosives on December 12 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Sgt Manuel, from Gateshead, and his comrade Cpl Marc Birch were killed at the scene and Marine Damian Davies died in hospital at Camp Bastion.

Hundreds of family, friends and comrades, including his partner Rachel and mother Pauline, filled St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Newcastle to pay their respects.

A colour party lined the street outside as the marine’s coffin, draped with the Union Flag, was carried into the cathedral for the service. Wreaths spelled out "Manny" and "Son".

Hymns included I Vow to Thee, My Country and Abide with Me. Tributes were led by Sgt Manuel’s brothers Trevor, 33, and Jimmy, 35.

Afterwards the coffin travelled the short distance to Saltwell Cemetery in Gateshead, where his body was laid to rest.

Last week, Sgt Manuel’s mother paid tribute to her son.

She said: "Jacky died a hero and to us he will always be a hero.

"He was an extraordinary man doing an extraordinary job, leading those around him right up until the very end.

"Jacky was a loving and special son. I was a single parent, and he supported me from a young age. His second priority was to serve his country."

Sgt Manuel joined the Royal Marines Cadets in Newcastle when he was 13 and spent every weekend perfecting his military field skills on camping trips.

And from his teenage years he was determined to realise his dream of becoming a full Royal Marines Commando.

He started his career at 45 Commando X-Ray Company, based in Scotland, and this was where he spent most of his 20-year career with the Royal Marines.

He served in Iraq and Kosovo and became a specialist driver and instructor.

On the day he was killed, Sgt Manuel was deployed on operations working alongside the Afghan National Army to dominate areas posing a threat to British forces and the local Afghan population.

And it was while he was acting as the commander of the Quick Reaction Force that the bomber struck.

Immediately after his death, his company commander Major Richard Maltby said the men’s thoughts were with Sgt Manuel’s partner Rachel.

"Sgt Manuel was a larger than life character who had become part of the backbone of X-Ray Company.

"A limitless ‘ball of fire’, Sgt Manuel was at the forefront of company life. Hugely popular, he combined a mischievous sense of humour with a dedication and professional manner that was second to none.

"He died doing what he loved, commanding a detachment on operations and taking the fight to the enemy.

"His loss will not only be felt by the company and battle group, but also across the Royal Marine Corps."