Emotional return for fallen soldier

The flag-draped coffin of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell is carried solemnly from the Hercules at Ohakea Air Force Base. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand's first casualty of the war in Afghanistan has been returned to his home town of Feilding, after an emotional ceremony at nearby Ohakea Air Force Base.

A coffin carrying Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, 28, arrived on an Air Force Hercules yesterday, to be formally received back into the New Zealand Army, then taken to his family.

Lieutenant O'Donnell was killed last week when a bomb exploded while his convoy was patrolling in Bamiyan Province.

Two of Lieutenant O'Donnell's men - Lance Corporal Matthew Ball, 24, and Private Allister Baker, 23 - were wounded in the attack.

Private Baker attended yesterday's ceremony in a wheelchair, his leg in a cast. Prime Minister John Key and senior Army personnel were also there to meet the coffin.

Children scurried for ear muffs as the Hercules came roaring towards the waiting crowd, but silence descended, with dusk, as the plane's engines slowly wound down.

The hush was punctuated only by the wails of Lieutenant O'Donnell's mother, Maryanne, and later by prayers recited as the family gathered on board the plane.

His father, Mark O'Donnell, approached the coffin with his head in his hands.

A loud haka finally broke the silence as the casket was carried from the plane to a waiting hearse.

Lieutenant O'Donnell's uncle, Barry O'Donnell, spoke afterwards, saying his death had been a sad time for the family, but his return home gave them "a huge sense of relief".

"I think waiting was the hardest part. We won't feel good, butwe feel better," he said.

It did not matter whether anyone else - including himself - believed in the Afghanistan mission, because that was what Tim had wanted to do, his uncle said.

A member of Lieutenant O'Donnell's extended family, Trevor Farmer, said a military ceremony was just what he would have wanted.

"Tim would have loved it - what appeared to be the whole military high command giving him a salute."

A full military ceremony will be held on Wednesday.

Army chief Major General Rhys Jones said he had known Lieutenant O'Donnell well, and considered him someone who had "a spark". He had joined the Army because he wanted fun and excitement, General Jones said.

"He was a character and had a spark that really gave him the ability to lead well and be respected by his soldiers, but also by his peer group that loved him.

"His antics sometimes got him into trouble, and sometimes he did exceptionally well."

It was a bittersweet time as the body came back home, General Jones said.

"The reality is the military go where it is dangerous, and deaths on operations are things we have to accept and move on from."

Mr Key said the death was a tragedy for New Zealand and he had passed on his condolences to the family.

"As Prime Minister, I'm not sure I can think of anything worse than having to receive home a New Zealand soldier in a coffin," he said.

"But I know his actions are part of a contingent of New Zealanders trying to make Afghanistan a stabilised and safer place for the rest of the world."