DHL executive David Giles, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan, was laid to rest in Bahrain following an emotional funeral service attended by more than 100 mourners at St Christopher’s Cathedral. The church was filled beyond capacity, leaving many attendees standing throughout the ceremony.
Giles, DHL’s operations manager for Afghanistan, and South African station manager Jason Bresler were shot dead on October 25 inside a vehicle parked outside the company’s Kabul office. The attack was carried out by an Afghan DHL security guard, who opened fire before taking his own life.
Both men received a 21-gun military salute by the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq as their bodies were flown out of Bagram air base — an honour that had never before been granted to civilians.
Family and Friends Grieve a Deep Loss
Giles’ coffin arrived at the cathedral in a DHL van and was carried inside by colleagues. His mother, Joanne (69), and sisters Jackie Kennedy (49) and Shirley Al Khalifa (42), all Bahrain residents, were overwhelmed with grief as the service began.
His former wife, Julia Wilson, and their 10-year-old son James travelled from Hull, England, to say their final goodbyes. Friends and colleagues flew in from Spain, Germany, and the UK to pay their respects.
British Ambassador Jamie Bowden and German Ambassador Dr Hubert Lang (as DHL is now German-owned) also attended the ceremony.
Among the mourners was one of Giles’ closest friends, Warren Hopkins, accompanied by his wife Wendy and their son Max, for whom Giles was a godfather. Giles’ fiancée, Beverly Settecasi of Tampa, Florida, was unable to make the journey.
The service was led by the Very Reverend Alan Hayday.
Tributes were delivered by DHL’s Iraq and Afghanistan country manager Phillip Armitage and Richard Howard from DHL’s aviation department. Both speakers shared heartfelt stories highlighting Giles’ kindness, generosity, and warm personality — bringing moments of both laughter and tears to the congregation.
Lisa Morgan, a close friend of Giles’ mother, performed “There’ll Always Be an England,” a tribute to his patriotism that moved many attendees to tears.
After the service, his coffin was returned to the DHL vehicle and transported to the Christian Cemetery in Manama for burial.
DHL: “We Have Lost Two Brothers”
DHL Express Middle East executive board member Paul Gillett, who helped establish the company’s offices in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the loss was deeply personal for the entire team.
“We are heartbroken. We may be a large global corporation, but it feels as though we have lost two family members,” he told the Gulf Daily News.
“Working in these regions creates a closeness and unity rarely found elsewhere in the DHL network. We have lost two brothers.”
Gillett added that tributes had poured in from around the world from people who had worked with Giles and Bresler.
“They were incredibly honest and selfless individuals, completely dedicated to their customers, colleagues, and the company. You could not have asked for two better employees.”
A Life Between Bahrain and Afghanistan
Giles lived in Sanad with his mother, who serves as membership secretary at the Bahrain Yacht Club. His work schedule required him to spend 11 weeks in Afghanistan followed by two weeks in Bahrain, a routine he had followed for years.
Born in Newcastle, Giles first moved to Bahrain more than a decade ago. He worked as head of security at BJ’s Nightspot, where he met his former wife Julia. The couple had their son James in Bahrain before later relocating to Hull. They separated in 2004, and Giles eventually returned to Bahrain.
Both of his sisters are married to Bahraini nationals, anchoring the family firmly in the expatriate community on the island.
