Full military funeral for Rifleman Philip Allen (From Bournemouth Echo)

Full military funeral for Rifleman Philip Allen

7:02pm Wednesday 25th November 2009

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Wimborne Minster will be the setting of the funeral of Rifleman Phil Allen on Tuesday, December 8.

Rifleman Allen’s family, friends and comrades will join civic dignitaries to pay their last respects at the military service, which will be conducted by the Rev Andrew Sinclair, vicar of St Michael’s and All Angels church in Verwood and army padre Rev Tracey Bateson.

After leaving Rifleman Allen’s home in Verwood at 12.15pm the cortege will pass through the town before pausing at the War Memorial.

Standard bearers from branches of the Royal British Legion will provide a guard of honour as the cortege passes through Wimborne.

Following the 1pm funeral service a private family cremation will be held at Poole crematorium.

Rifleman Allen, 20, a member of 2 Rifles, proposed to his fiancee Karina on the day he flew to Afghanistan.

Only a few weeks later, while serving with 4 Rifles, the talented musician was killed by an improvised explosive device.

His mother, Karen Charman-Allen, told the Daily Echo how her 20-year-old son and Karina were planning to celebrate their engagement and buy a ring when he came home in December – the day of Karina’s 19th birthday.

Speaking of the funeral arrangements, Karen added: “It will be a full military funeral. We couldn’t hold it in the local church because it’s not big enough; there are only 300 seats.”

In her own tribute to her eldest child, Karen said: “As well as being my son, Phil was my best friend.

“He was a soldier through and through and loved his job. It was always something he wanted to do.”

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