Slain SAS soldier a 'free spirit'

The 21-year army veteran was on his second deployment to Afghanistan when he was fatally wounded. Photo / Supplied

Corporal Douglas Grant approached life the way he wrote he rode his motorcycle - "above the speed limit", his commanding officer told his funeral service in the Linton Camp gymnasium near Palmerston North.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Parsons said he had been a "free spirit" who went the extra mile.

They had joined the SAS together in 1996.

Corporal Grant's grieving wife Tina said he took care of everything he touched.

He was a storyteller and told stories like no other, she said. He wrote stories as well and since his death she had gone through some of his stories.

One of them, a fictional Second World War story, was read at the service.

Prime Minister John Key described him as a true hero who had died trying to rescue civilians under attack in Kabul.

One of his SAS comrades had rushed to his side when he was shot and tried to resuscitate him while under fire.

Corporal Grant's coffin arrived on a gun carriage pulled by a large four-wheeled vehicle with an SAS escort on the running board.

Engineers in a slow march escorted the procession. His coffin was draped in a New Zealand flag and carried his military medals and sword.

Corporal Grant was one of five sons, and one brother, Stuart, gave a moving eulogy about his brother . "We'll miss you mate."

He was a Triumph bike rider and a member of the Patriots Defence Forces Motorcycle Club.

The music at the funeral included Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones and Ride on by ACDC.

Corporal Grant, 41, was shot dead last week during an operation to rescue hostages at the British Council cultural centre in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, which was being attacked by the Taleban.

Eight policemen and three Afghan guards were also killed in the raid.

Corporal Grant left his wife and two children.

He will be cremated after a private family service in Palmerston North this afternoon.