Funeral For Edinburgh Soldier And 'Lovely Boy'

The funeral of a soldier from Edinburgh who died while on holiday in Florida has taken place.

Private Shaun Cole, 22, had been attending the Ultra Music festival in Miami with two friends when he died on 29 March.

He was laid to rest with full military colours at Colinton Parish Church where over 650 people turned out, wearing bright colours, to pay their respects.

Major Nick Colquhoun from the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland paid tribute to Pte Cole, who was serving with the Royal Scots Borderers.

He said; “Private Shaun Cole was a highly capable, experienced and professional young soldier. He had served just over three years with the Royal Scots Borderers First Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.

“During that time he proved himself in demanding combat operations in Afghanistan working alongside the Afghan national army and most recently in Sierra Leone where he deployed in support of the international humanitarian effort to combat the Ebola virus disease.

“Shaun had recently completed a four-month tour of Sierra Leone where he'd been working to stop the spread of the killer virus Ebola. Private Shaun Cole achieved an extraordinary amount in his short military career.

“He was an immensely popular soldier and his loss has left a gaping hole in the ranks of Bravo Company and the whole of the first battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

“At this time our thoughts and prayers are very much with his family his loved ones and his friends.”