A soldier, a son and a friend farewelled

Michael Victor Ross was laid to rest in the cemetery at St Stephen's Church, Pamapuria, after a funeral at Te Paatu Marae yesterday.

He was farewelled as a much-loved grandson, son, brother, partner, a member of a large and loving whanau, and as a soldier.

As six of his fellow soldiers from A Coy carried him on their shoulders, down the lane from the marae to State Highway 1 where a gun carriage waited to take him the few hundred metres to the church he was accorded one last passionate haka, his family, heads bowed, leading the sombre procession.

Canon Dennis Urquhart (Kaitaia), who baptised Michael at St Stephens in May 1983, and who later had a role in his confirmation at St Saviour's in Kaitaia, led the requiem holy communion with Chaplain Chris Purdie, one of a strong Army contingent that travelled north to farewell their friend and comrade, and to offer one final gesture of support to his family.

Michael's brother Rodney Ross read Psalm 71: 10-16, words that he said had real meaning for his brother, who had marked them in his own Bible.

Major Brad Taylor, Officer Commanding Alpha Company, said Private Michael Ross had had an easy-going personality and an outstanding work ethic. He had joined the Army because he saw it as the heart of New Zealand's defence against "rebels and rascals," but plumbing was his first passion.

The young man who, as a teenager, had begun an apprenticeship at his uncle Jack Rogers' firm in Kaitaia, had always been on hand when the Army's "dodgy plumbing" had needed attention, and in fact, shortly before his death, he had given notice of his intention to leave the Army, to return to Auckland where he planned to return to the trade.

Whether it was fixing leaking pipes or defending potential victims from rebels and rascals, Pte Michael Ross gave every task 100 per cent, and served his country proudly, Major Taylor said.

He had had a rascal side of his own though, as revealed in East Timor, where a ban on tattoos (because of the health risks) didn't prevent him from searching out a 'clean' parlour and having his tattoo touched up.

"He spent the next few days turning side on when speaking to his commanders," Major Taylor said.

His decision to leave the Army had been disappointing, he added, and the option of awarding him a commission had even been discussed.

"You have truly been a great soldier and a friend to all. Once a soldier, always a soldier," he concluded.

That was a view shared by his family, David Barrington Rogers describing his cousin as a humble, motivated, passionate and highly motivated man.

"The Army gave him a pride of place, a pride of purpose and a pride of self. Your special ability to touch our hearts will be greatly missed," he said.