THE tranquil churchyard of All Saints Parish Church was the setting for a solemn service to remember Corporal Michael Pike earlier this week.

The soldier's family and members of the community attended the remembrance service at the town's war memorial on Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects to Corporal Pike, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011 aged 26. His name has been added to the memorial.

Corporal Pike spent the first five years of his life in Okehampton before moving to Scotland. His extended family, including his mother and father, still live in the Okehampton area and requested that his name be added to the town memorial at All Saints Parish Church.

Pike was leading a patrol in contact with the enemy when he was killed. Having joined the Army at the age of 16, he was serving as a section commander in A Company, 4th Battalion (The Highlanders), The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Among others present at the service were the High Sheriff of Devon, President of the Devon Royal British Legion, representatives of Corporal Pike's battalion, including a piper who played music during the service, and councillors from both Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council.

The service was organised by the Okehampton branch of the Royal British Legion, in collaboration with the parish church and Okehampton Town Council.

During the service, members of Corporal Pike's family laid wreaths and flowers, and both the president of the Devon Royal British Legion and the High Sheriff of Devon gave readings.

The service was led by Rev Stephen Cook.

He said: 'Every year we gather by the town memorial, and read the names of those from the community who have laid down their lives to defend their country, and we are close to paying those respects again today. This year, a new name has been added to that list of those we remember.

'Today is a sad day, but also one of great pride as we remember a son of Okehampton who served his country proudly, and in doing so made the ultimate sacrifice.'