Farewell to British hero James Kirby: Military veteran

Grieving family and friends have paid tribute to British hero James Kirby at the funeral of the military veteran-turned-aid worker killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

Large crowds turned out today in Bristol to pay their respects to Mr Kirby, 47, who was one of seven World Central Kitchen workers who died in the April 1 attack.

Mr Kirby, who had fought in Bosnia and Afghanistan, had his life commemorated at St Mary Redcliffe Church in his native city. 

He was part of WCK's security team travelling with a convoy that had just unloaded more than 100 tonnes of much-needed food aid brought from overseas when hit by the air strike, dying along with two other Britons.

Mourners lined the streets this afternoon to remember him, a poignant flower arrangement spelled out the word 'SON' and immediate family and friends carried his coffin draped in the Union Jack.

Mourners have been attending the funeral in Bristol of British hero Paul Kirby, who was killed in by an Israeli air strike in Gaza on April 1

James Kirby, 47, was helping provide security for World Central Kitchen delivering food in Gaza

Army representatives were among those honouring military veteran Mr Kirby

The procession was followed by uniformed representatives of the armed forces. 

Among those paying tribute was Brendan Forbes, 46, a friend of James from the British Army.

He said: 'I knew James from the age of 13 and we joined the army cadets together.

'He had a passion for being outdoors and we were best friends from there.

'I joined the line infantry in 1994 and served in Bosnia and Afghanistan in separate companies to James.

'It was wonderful being friends with him for so many years - absolutely perfect at working a crowded room and making you think you were the only person in that room.

'James had a wicked sense of humour. We had a mischievous friendship was about making other people laugh.

'I was selfish - I thought he was my best friend, but he's everyone's best friend. There are a lot of people who have come to see him.'

Mr Forbes, who now runs a construction company in Edinburgh, told how his friend had moved to Gaza to work with WCK - saying he was 'off on a job'.

James Kirby, 47, (pictured) was among those who tragically died after multiple drone strikes hit their convoy of vehicles in the warzone on April 1

A floral tribute spelling out 'SON' was placed at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol

James Kirby's coffin was carried out of the church draped in the Union Jack

Brendan Forbes, who served in the Army with Mr Kirby, called him 'everyone's best friend' 

Mr Kirby, whose coffin is seen being carried from the church, was described as someone with a 'passion for being outdoors' and a 'wicked sense of humour'

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Mr Forbes added: 'He would not go working for people if they had a bad reputation. I spoke to him before he left. "I'll see you when I'm back", he said.'

Veiner Gaston, 36, another friend of James now living in Edinburgh, said: 'We went to Afghanistan together serving with the Rifles. He was my cover. He was the one physically protecting me.

'"I keep you from blowing up, and you keep me from getting shot", I'd tell him.

'We kept in touch after that. He would walk past someone and he would bring everyone in. He would always treat everyone the same - always would make them laugh, make them smile.'

Speaking through the tears, he remembered: 'James said, "I'm off to Gaza". He was hoping to come back after the rotation.

'He looked at it as a challenge to help someone - he would drop everything else to help them.

'In Afghanistan he would call a kid over and give them a chocolate bar.

'It's hard being here. I'm not going to see him again after this. I thought this guy was bullet proof. I thought he was invincible. Nothing could hurt him.'

Mr Kirby's mother Jacqui Kirby released a statement ahead of the service through Avon and Somerset Police, saying they would 'celebrate the life' of her son.

The funeral procession was led by the vicar of St Mary's, Canon Dan Tyndall

Mr Kirby's friend Veiner Gaston said of him: 'He would always treat everyone the same - always would make them laugh, make them smile'

Military colleagues were among those present for the funeral of Mr Kirby, who had served with the British Army in Bosnia and Afghanistan

Floral tributes this one bearing simply the initial of James Kirby's first name

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She said: 'I cannot express more deeply my gratitude for the outpouring of love I have seen over the weeks since his tragic death in Gaza.

'James was a remarkable man, a true friend to so many people and above all, he was my son.

'I will miss him beyond measure and cannot comprehend a future without his presence.

'But, I take great comfort from knowing he died doing something that really mattered to him, and the knowledge that he was loved by so many people from all walks of life.'

The vicar of St Mary's, Canon Dan Tyndall, told the service he had 600 copies of the Order of Service printed.

He told mourners: 'What do we want when there's darkness? A glimmer of light. Just a little light.

'His legacy gleams with a radiant light. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness

'Serving his country, being in the security services in Gaza, James shone bright with that light.

'What is James' legacy? Look around you. We are James' legacy. We need to carry the light into the darker places in our world.'

Canon Dan Tyndall said of Mr Kirby: 'His legacy gleams with a radiant light'

Floral tributes are seen outside St Mary Redcliffe Church for James Kirby's funeral

Canon Dan Tyndall told mourners: 'We are James' legacy. We need to carry the light into the darker places in our world'

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Reverend Laura Verrall-Kelly added: 'We remember those who died alongside him. We remember their bravery in walking into dangerous situations for the sake of humanity.

'We continue to pray for the work of the WCK to continue to spread."

Andre, James' cousin, recalled during the service how James briefly took up DJing under the name 'DJ Kirbs'.

He said: 'James was a constant calming presence - you knew he was there but he was just out the way.

'That big nose, cheeky smile, broad Bristolian accent - he was a one off. Let's soldier on and be more like Kirbs.

Another friend, Mark Blackmore, also gave a speech in which he said: 'We would take the mick out of each other's regiments.

'I bet there is not a person in here that he has not helped, whether it was a bit of DIY or just a chat.'

Hymns played during the service were Abide with Me and I Vow To Thee My Country, while the Roy Orbison song In Dreams was also played.

The other Britons who died in the April 1 attack were James Henderson, 33, from Falmouth in Cornwall, and 57-year-old John Chapman, from Poole in Dorset.

James Henderson, 33, (pictured) - a former special forces operator and a member of the Royal Marines for six years - was also killed in the bombing

Fellow victim John Chapman, 57, (pictured) is thought to have served in the Special Boat Squadron, part of the UK's Special Forces

Seven volunteers were killed in a series of strikes in Deir al-Balah, in Gaza, on Monday

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The victims were part of a convoy in Deir al-Balah, south of Gaza City, moving food from a warehouse to distribute to Gaza's starving population - after communicating to Israel that they were working in the area.

Also killed were Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, Lalzawmi 'Zomi' Frankom, 43, from Australia, American Jacob Flickinger, 33, and Polish national Damian Sobol, 35.

WCK, which was founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said in the wake of the strike its staff had been traveling in two armoured cars emblazoned with the charity's logo and another third vehicle when they were hit by Israeli strikes.

The first vehicle was hit by a precision R9X Hellfire missile shortly before midnight.

Passengers were seen scrambling from the wreckage and jumping into the other two cars - and telling the IDF they had been hit.

The remaining vehicles were hit after travelling just 1,000 yards up the road, on a street 'designated for the passage of humanitarian aid, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Photos of the aftermath showed the cars scorched and badly damaged inside and out.

The third car tried to take the injured to safety but was hit by a drone after travelling a mile along the coastal road, killing all seven of the volunteers.

Wreckage of a World Central Kitchen vehicle in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip after seven aid workers - including three British ex-servicemen - were killed in an Israeli drone strike 

Photos of the attack's aftermath showed a gaping hole in the roof of the World Central Kitchen vehicle hit by Israel in what the country's government called a 'tragic mistake'

The deaths drew global condemnation, including from US President Joe Biden.

The Israeli military accepted responsibility and fired two officers over what it called a a 'tragic mistake'.

But WCK chief executive said: 'Their apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues represent cold comfort - it's cold comfort for the victims' families and WCK's global family.'

WCK suspended its operations in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where half the population are believed to be at risk of 'imminent' famine.