BAMPTON is a village bound together by tragedy.

On May 14, Marine Jason Mackie, 21, was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the Basharan area of Helmand.

It is his village’s extraordinary response to his death, and their ongoing support for other local servicemen’s families, that has led one soldier’s father to label Bampton “the most loyal village in Oxfordshire.”

In a population of only 2,000, at least 14 families have sons or daughters on active service.

And there is a real sense of connection between the village and the county’s military bases, especially RAF Brize Norton, where thousands fly out to battle every year – a tour, sadly, from which many never return.

Since Marine Mackie’s death, villagers have rallied round to support his mum Lee Mackie, above, who is facing her first Easter without him, while showing boundless help for other military families.

Mrs Mackie, who moved to the village from Zimbabwe in 2002, said: “Everyone has been wonderful. They’ve been here when I needed it.

“They organised so much for the funeral. The parochial council mowed the churchyard, the charity shops and the British Legion put money towards food for the day. They were amazing.”

And, as events 3,500 miles away brought the war so close to home, a spirit of solidarity with Mrs Mackie and the other service families began to grow.

For the first time, the Royal British Legion had volunteers phoning up asking to collect for the Poppy Appeal, while five times the normal number of people turned up for Remembrance Sunday.

Villagers raised £5,000 for the War Memorial to be restored and have Marine Mackie’s name added.

In Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, hundreds came out to mourn dead troops returning from Afghanistan.

And every time a soldier’s body is repatriated, a contingent from the village heads to a layby on the A420 where well-wishers have gathered more than 100 times to mark the passing of their corteges on their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

Parish councillor Steve Radband, 47, whose son David, 24, has just returned from a six-month tour of duty on the frontline, said: “When the boys come home, the number of people who walk up to them and shake their hand is incredible. It has to be the most loyal village in Oxfordshire. The way it supports the troops and the local lads out there is amazing. On the day of Jason’s funeral, the whole village came to a standstill and the streets were lined with people. For such a sad day, it was a hell of a send off for Jason. It was a terrible shame such a parade was for the wrong reason.”

Mr Radband added: “One of the nicest things to come out of this is that youngsters used to hang around the War Memorial, to drink and smoke. After having a little chat with them a couple of times, they are now policing it.”

Wing Commander Adrian Bettridge, from RAF Brize Norton, said: “All personnel from across RAF Brize Norton are grateful to the local communities for the support they offer to the repatriation ceremonies.

“It is heartening to witness the numbers of people not only from Wootton Bassett, but from communities across Wiltshire and Oxfordshire who take the time to line the route on each occasion when service personnel who have tragically lost their lives in operations are brought home.”

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk