Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid's family and friends pay tribute at funeral (From This is Hampshire)

Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid's family and friends pay tribute at funeral

11:31am Tuesday 24th November 2009 in

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THE widow of a bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan paid a powerful tribute to her "warrior" husband at his funeral today.

Christina Schmid told the congregation at Truro Cathedral, in Cornwall, that she hoped the death of her husband, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, would unite civilians and troops.

Mrs Schmid, 34, who lived with her husband in Harestock, Winchester, called on world leaders to do more to protect soldiers serving in the war-torn country.

Staff Sgt Schmid, 30, died on October 31 - a day before he was due to return to the UK - while trying to disarm an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Sangin region of Helmand province.

Hundreds of uniformed soldiers, family and friends filled the 19th century cathedral, and listened as Mrs Schmid spoke of her loss.

She said: "In my eyes, my husband, my son's father, was a warrior. Warriors are unique. Our protectors - not destroyers.

"Olaf and troops like him join to serve traditional warrior values, to passionately protect the country they love, its ideals and especially their families, communities and each other.

"In past conflicts, where there was an immediate threat to our shores and our existence, soldiers were never plagued with self-doubt about the value of their role in society, and people and their soldiers were once close in unity.

"We might disagree with a war; however, I hope Olaf's death, my public storytelling and appreciation, our community display of respect here today can serve to bridge that gap and unite us once more with our troops."

Mrs Schmid said she hoped the work troops were doing in Afghanistan did not go "unnoticed" by "our leaders".

She said: "From now on I expect our peacemakers to show us they are working as hard as he did to preserve life. I'd like to see them push themselves and serve us like never before."

Mrs Schmid said the last 18 months of her husband's life presented his "toughest, darkest challenges ever".

"Most of you will have known Oz the joker, always up for a giggle," she said. "However, I lived with a very different man."

She went on: "When he felt compromised, overwhelmed or threatened, I've wiped his tears, pulled him up and fought his fears for him.

"Becoming his proud widow has been the hardest, however best, thing I have ever done for him."

Staff Sgt Schmid, of the Royal Logistic Corps, was deployed to Afghanistan five months ago and in that time he had made safe 64 IEDs and found 11 bomb-making centres.

He took part in Operation Panther's Claw, the Army's offensive to clear populated areas in central Helmand of Taliban insurgents.

He joined the Army in 1996 and progressed through the ranks, being promoted to Staff Sergeant in April last year.