Military funeral for hero soldier

Nov 4 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

HERO tank driver Paul McGee will be given a proud military send-off next week when his funeral takes place at Paisley Town Hall.

Guardsman Paul died in Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital following an incident in his home village of Lochwinnoch in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.

The tragedy came two years after he risked his life in a desperate bid to save a drowning comrade in Iraq.

Paul, 28, was later awarded the prestigious Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

He had been driving a tank in pitch-black conditions at 3am when he noticed another armoured vehicle, being driven by Army colleague Stephen Ferguson, was in trouble.

The pals, who were in the same platoon, were patrolling with The Scots Guards near their Confinery Operation Base in Iraq when the tank Stephen was driving plunged into a canal.

Paul jumped into the water in an effort to save his friend but his efforts were ultimately in vain and 31-year-old Stephen lost his fight for life.

Yesterday, an Army spokeswoman confirmed that Paul, a former student at Reid Kerr College in Paisley, will be laid to rest with military honours.

This will include military pall bearers and – depending on his family’s wishes – could also involve pipers, a guard of honour, drummers, a volley of shots being fired into the air and a bugler sounding The Last Post.

Paul’s funeral will take place at Paisley Town Hall at 10.15am on Wednesday, November 11, and thereafter to Lochwinnoch Cemetery for around noon. He was a beloved son to Anne and his late dad John.

All family and friends will be made welcome at the service in Paisley Town Hall and there will be a collection for the Help For Heroes charity, which supports members of the armed forces who have been injured while fighting for their country, and the Scots Guards Colonel’s Fund for the long-term injured.

l Two men have appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court in connection with Paul’s death.

Ian Wallace, of Ryefield Avenue, Johnstone, and Barry John McGrory, of Park Ridge, Erskine, are alleged to have repeatedly punched and stabbed Paul.

Wallace, 28, is also alleged to have assaulted John Banach at the same time and place by punching him on the face and repeatedly attempting to punch him.

Neither Wallace nor 28-year-old McGrory made any plea or declaration during their brief appearance on petition and both accused were remanded in custody.