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