Mourners are gathering to farewell a SAS trooper killed in action in Afghanistan.
An open service is being held at the Papakura Military Camp this afternoon to honour Lance Corporal Leon Smith, a soldier killed in a firefight near Kabul last week.
The 33-year-old was shot in the head on September 28 during an operation in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, at a compound suspected of housing Taleban bomb-makers preparing for an attack in the capital.
His body was repatriated this week.
This is the second memorial ceremony, as he was farewelled by his mates in Afghanistan with a haka two days ago.
