Hundreds of mourners attend British 20-year-old Corporal Nathanel Young’s funeral
Mourners forced to dive to the ground as air force sirens sound over the cemetery.
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
Hundreds of people attending the funeral of Corporal Nathanel Young, the 20-year-old British-born soldier killed in the first Hamas attacks on Israel at the weekend, were forced to dive to the ground as air force sirens sounded over the cemetery.
The sirens began towards the end of a tribute to her younger brother by his sister Gabi. She and her brother Elliot spoke with warm affection of Nathanel, who had been determined since he was a young boy to serve in the IDF. Both alluded to his devotion to his family, and his much-admired habit of travelling long distances on his weekends away from the army, in order to spend time with his nieces.
He achieved his ambition to live in Israel just over two years ago, and became a member of the Golan Brigade, serving as a lone solider. His commander told the family that Nathanel “was a hero” and pledged — “we of the Golan Brigade are your family, now and for ever.”
Chantal Young, speaking emotionally with her husband Nicky about their son, paid tribute to his kindness and generous spirit, and both expressed their sympathy for other bereaved parents who had suffered losses in this latest Israeli war.
The funeral, live-streamed by Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue, featured a military guard of honour from Corporal Young’s former comrades. Dozens of filled sandbags flanked the grave and were used by mourners to cover the plain wooden coffin.
Shofar blasts were sounded at the conclusion of the service together with the recitation of El Ma’ale Rachamim.
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