article_snippet.sent: ' former soldier Ashley Johnston served for seven years with Australia's Army Reserves before going travelling and becoming moved by the struggle of ethnic Kurds against IS militants, who have taken control of large parts of Syria of Iraq.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Johnston was joined by over 300 weeping mourners from the Kurdish community, many of whom had never met the 28-year-old Australian army reservist and yet had the 28-year-old Australian army reservist picture pinned to their chests alongside the YPG star.
article_snippet.sent: Kurdish Association of Sydney president Gulfar Olan said Mr Johnston would be remembered as the 'great Australian human rights activist'. '
article_snippet.sent: Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Shiyar Cahal, 22, paid Mr Johnston respects to the Kurdish fighter and said Mr Johnston wished Mr Johnston knew what motivated Mr Johnston to leave Australia to fight in Syria. '
article_snippet.sent: Mr Johnston sacrificed Mr Johnston against ISIS for the Kurdish people and for us that's a big thing.
article_snippet.sent: Over 300 weeping mourners from All the Kurdish community, many of whom had never met the 28-year-old Australian army reservist and yet had the 28-year-old Australian army reservist picture pinned to their chests alongside the YPG star .
article_snippet.sent: I wish I could ask Mr Johnston what made Mr Johnston go as an Aussie, to see what motivated Mr Johnston against ISIS to give Mr Johnston life.'
article_snippet.sent: It is still a mystery to them how Mr Johnston made connections in All the Kurdish community in Syria.
article_snippet.sent: It is still a mystery to Mr Johnston's family how Mr Johnston made connections in All the Kurdish community in Syria.