Family and friends salute 'natural leader'

Comrades carry the coffin of Tim O'Donnell. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Under a clear, bright winter sky Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell was yesterday farewelled by family, comrades and dignitaries.

Lieutenant O'Donnell, 28, was killed last week in an ambush in a mountainous region of Bamiyan province, Afghanistan - the first New Zealand soldier in a decade to die in combat.

The music-loving officer's favourite songs were playing as his comrades from the 1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment filed into Linton Military Camp's gymnasium for his funeral.

Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt lent a fittingly sombre tone, but AC/DC's Back in Black served as a reminder that this had been an energetic young man with a lust for life.

As the Royal New Zealand Air Force paid tribute with the fly-past of Iroquois helicopters, Lance Corporal Matthew Ball, 24, and Private Allister Baker, 23 - injured in the same attack in which their lieutenant died - and other mourners waited in silence for the arrival of Lieutenant O'Donnell's parents, Mark and Maryanne, other relatives and dignitaries, including the Governor-General.

Among the speakers, Prime Minister John Key paid tribute to "a natural leader" who would never ask those under his command to take a risk he wasn't prepared to take himself.

"Our thoughts today are with the brave young men and women who are carrying on the work Tim did in Afghanistan. They will miss their mate dearly."

Defence Force Chief Lieutenant-General Jerry Mateparae spoke of the qualities the military looked for in its young officers - commitment, courage, honesty and spirit.

"Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell was a striking example.

"His personal attributes as a leader made him a respected soldier, colleague and comrade. He lived his values, he lived his dream."

Uncle Barry O'Donnell confirmed his nephew could be "a bit of a rogue" with a zest for life who "drove too fast, drank too much occasionally and broke a few hearts".

As Lieutenant Joe Darby, who attended Officer Cadet School with him put it, Lieutenant O'Donnell was "an officer and not quite a gentleman, but everyone's mate".

Brother Andrew O'Donnell - accompanied by sister Anna - emotionally recalled a great mate who taught him to play cards, and to cheat, and who often took him hunting, "always making sure I was having a good time".

After prayers, the mourners followed Lieutenant O'Donnell's coffin, borne by comrades from the 2nd/1st Battalion, out into the sunshine. There, he was saluted with three volleys of rifle fire and the Last Post before taking his last journey out through Linton's front gates back into his family's care.