'Fearless, tough and gentle": Staffordshire village honours paratrooper, 41, with military funeral after his proud service in Northern Ireland and Iraq
The village of Penkridge stood still on Monday, November 10 afternoon to remember the life of a paratrooper who passed away last month.
Luke Smith was born in Penkridge, Staffordshire in 1984, and served three tours with the Worcester and Hereford branch of the Parachute Regiment.
He received the General Service Medal for his service in Northern Ireland and Iraq in the early 2000s, before returning to England and moving to Bilbrook, Codsall.
The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.
After suffering from PTSD and alcohol addiction, Luke passed away aged 41 in October 2025, and due to his prestigious service record he was given a military funeral at St Michael's Church, Penkridge on Monday, November 10, the day after Remembrance Sunday and the day before Armistice Day. Fittingly, the Last Post was played as the Union Flag-covered coffin was taken from the church after the service.
The order of service The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The Last Post.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Luke's dog Yogi says goodbye during the service.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Standard bearers at the door of the church.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Luke's motocross helmet and beret on top of his coffin.
Touching tributes were paid to Luke, including from his step-father Andy, who said: "watching Luke become a para was one of the proudest moments of my life."
Also in attendance was Luke's beloved dog Yogi, who said his own goodbyes by jumping up at the coffin once it had been set to rest by Luke's fellow-service men.
The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Family members make their way towards the church.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Flowers reading 'BRO'The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Family members make their way towards the church.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.The military funeral of Northern Ireland veteran Luke Smith, at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Penkridge.Luke's motorcross helmet and beret on top of his coffin.
Others described Luke as: "Fearless, tough and gentle, but a no-nonsense warrior," and someone who "lived at 100 miles per hour at 100 per cent intensity."
Daniel, Luke's step-brother, left a message that was read out by his sister Kylie which said: "Luke, I have so many stories to share, but they're not for church."
Stories shared by family and friends focused on Luke's life away from military service, where he held keen interests in motocross racing and bodybuilding.
"We're not just remembering the soldier, we're remembering the man who filled us with pride," step-dad Andy said. "Luke left the war, but the war never left him."
