IT WAS the promise to his best mate he hoped he would never have to keep. But yesterday bricklayer Barry Delaney turned out to pay tribute to Black Watch hero Kevin Elliott … wearing a lime green dress and pink socks.
Grief-stricken Barry had lost his lifelong friend to a grenade attack in Afghanistan, and he was determined to keep the pact they had made years ago.
As he arrived at the cemetery for Kevin’s funeral in the dress and socks, other mourners cheered and applauded him.
Barry, 25, sobbed as he hugged members of Kevin’s family before sinking to his knees close to his friend’s grave. He was too upset to speak but his brother, also called Kevin, later explained the promise behind the bizarre funeral outfit.
He said: “Barry and Kev have been best pals for years and they came up with this idea. I think it was around the time that Kev went into the Army that he said if one of them dies early, the other has to wear a dress to the funeral.”
Barry is a man of his word and it meant a lot to him to follow through with the promise.
“Kev will always be remembered for being a really fun-loving bloke who loved a laugh. I’m sure if he was watching what was going on, he would have been having a right good chuckle to himself.”
Barry was one of more than 1000 mourners who turned out to honour Kevin in his home city of Dundee. The city centre was brought to a standstill as the young soldier’s cortege wound its way slowly through the streets to the City Churches, in Nethergate.
Kevin’s friends and family wore Black Watch tartan ribbons with the words “Kevin Elliott – Our Hero”, while Army colleagues turned out in full regimental dress. His mother and grandmother, both called Margaret, wore white poppies and his sister, Kirsty, wore the Elizabeth medal – awarded by the Queen to recognise the loss suffered by families.
The funeral – with full military honours – was relayed through loudspeakers to the crowd. Tributes at the 40-minute service at St Mary’s Church were led by Kevin’s father, Sandy, who said the day he learned of his son’s death was the saddest of his life.
He spoke of his pride in a son who he said would do anything for his friends and family. Kevin would be missed as a brother, a grandson, a nephew and a cousin but most of all as a son, Sandy told mourners.
Black Watch welfare officer Captain Lorne Campbell said Kevin had been like a brother to his “second family” within the regiment.
He told around 400 people gathered at the church: “We will not forget the sacrifice, giving his life, protecting his friends, representing his regiment and his country, and so that the people of Afghanistan might have a better future.”
After the service, Kevin’s coffin, draped in a Saltire, was carried to a waiting hearse outside the church. Hundreds gathered along Nethergate – including many who were wearing specially designed T-shirts – clapped as the funeral cortege departed at around midday for the soldier’s burial at Barnhill Cemetery.
Kevin, who previously served in Iraq and Northern Ireland, had been about to leave the Army earlier this year but was tempted back to serve in Afghanistan at the last minute. In March, he had returned his kit and was about to walk out of the Fort George barracks in Inverness when he decided to turn back.
When asked why, he replied: “I didn’t want to miss the boys.”
Kevin was killed along with Sergeant Stuart Millar, 40, on August 31. The pair were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while defending their colleagues when they came under attack from insurgents in the volatile area of Helmand province where they were patrolling.
As a boy, Kevin attended Braeview Academy in Dundee where he was a keen boxer and footballer. He joined the Army in 2002 and after training went on to serve with the Fire Support Company.
The service was told how he loved a good party and was once caught with a fridge full of beer at a room inspection. Instead of discarding it, he drank it all in front of his platoon sergeant. Fellow Private Peter Fenton described him as “hilarious, confident, loyal and above all charming”.
He added: “His loss will leave a big hole in the platoon.”