News

Family and friends attend memorial service for RAF gunner Corrie McKeague

The RAF paid tribute to gunner Corrie McKeague as family and friends attended a memorial service held at his former base.

Senior Aircraftman McKeague, from Dunfermline, Fife, was 23 when he vanished in the early hours of 24 September, 2016, on a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Earlier this year, an inquest recorded a narrative conclusion that SAC McKeague got into a bin that was then emptied into a waste lorry.

His mother, Nicola Urquhart, greeted mourners outside the church at RAF Honington, where he was stationed, as the City of Norwich Pipe Band played ahead of the service on Saturday.

Corrie McKeague in his RAF uniform — An inquest recorded a narrative conclusion that Mr McKeague got into a bin that was then emptied into a waste lorry (picture BFBS).

Mr McKeague's brother, Daroch McKeague, and sister-in-law, Cloe McKeague, were among those who attended the ceremony at 11:00 UKT.

Station Commander, Group Captain Dutch Holland, said in a statement: "I am privileged to have the memorial service for SAC Corrie McKeague today here at RAF Honington, where he spent his RAF Regiment career.

"This memorial service is an act of worship led by an RAF padre, and we ask that the family's privacy is respected before, during, and after this service as they remember the loss of a son, father, and brother.

"Our thoughts continue to be with SAC McKeague's family, friends and colleagues and all those whose lives he touched."

Mr McKeague died at about 04:20 in Bury St Edmunds due to "compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries", jurors at the inquest recorded.

Writing on the Find Corrie Facebook page in July, Ms Urquhart said that she had "struggled to come to terms" with the findings, but "as a family, we are ready to have a memorial for Corrie".

"The Royal Air Force are holding a military memorial for Corrie," she said.

"I will never be able to thank the RAF for all they have done and tried to do for us, for all they did for Corrie."

She added: "As this is on public ground and not on the actual RAF base, anyone can attend the service."

The family requested no flowers and took a collection for the RAF Benevolent Fund.