A SERVING brigadier has paid tribute to his Royal Marine son

killed in a training accident – thanking him for his love.

In a moving tribute to 23-year-old Jamie Hutton, Jim Hutton

yesterday addressed a packed funeral at St Andrew's Church in

Plymouth and said: “Thank you for your love, son; you have gone

away but we will never forget you.”

Hundreds of people gathered at the tearful but touching full

military funeral of the Royal Marine who was based at 42

Commando in Bickleigh.

At least 200 Marines from his unit attended as well as

countless other friends and military top brass.

As the hearse carrying the body of Mne Hutton arrived at the

church, an eerie silence fell over Royal Parade.

Dozens of members of the public stood and watched as the

hearse passed through a military guard of honour.

The family of Mne Hutton, known to his friends as “Colonel”,

then got out of the convoy of cars and made their way into the

church where they were met with hundreds of well-wishers.

Brigadier Hutton was the last speaker at the hour-long

funeral and kept his composure throughout.

He said he last saw his son in May when he returned from a

deployment in Kabul. “He was really taking shape as a Royal

Marine and finding his feet as a leader,” he told the packed

congregation.

“A lovely boy lost his life training for the job he loved.

He was in the corps for three years but he was in the corps

family all his life.”

Mne Hutton died last week in Dorset on a military training

exercise in preparation for the forthcoming tour of

Afghanistan.

He was killed instantly when a Land Rover overturned during

a training exercise.

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Stickland, Commanding Officer of

42 Commando, also paid tribute to Mne Hutton.

He said: “He was a larger-than-life character, his death

sent a shockwave through the band of warriors that are the

Recce Troop which he was a member of.”

One of Mne Hutton's friends, Sam Taylor, son of the

Commanding Officer of Stonehouse Barracks, said: “Jamie had a

unique gift which has touched us all here today and our lives

are so much better for knowing him.”

Another friend, Matt Lee, said: “I am still struggling to

come to terms with the fact I will never seen him again.”

Chris Pascoe, vice-chairman of OPMs rugby club – which Mne

Hutton had been a member of for three years – club, said: “He

was just such a carefree and happy-go-lucky person.

“He was young and energetic and a likeable character.”

He said the team paid tribute to Mne Hutton last weekend

during a game in Newquay with the whole squad wearing the

number two and “Hutton” on their shirts.

Matt Glastonbury, first-team captain of OPMs, said he spoke

on behalf of the whole team by saying it was a “privilege”

knowing him.

As the coffin containing Mne Hutton's body was carried out

of the church, the Last Post was played on a bugle. Once again,

the sun-kissed Royal Parade fell silent.

The funeral was conducted by the Rev Tudor Botwood, 42

Commando's chaplain, and the Rev Karl Freeman, 29 Commando

Regiment Royal Artillery's padre.