The body of Australian Kurdish fighter Ashley Johnston is on the way home, following a funeral service held in his honour was carried out in Iraq. The former soldier was reportedly killed while fighting for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) on February 24. Johnston, known as Heval Bagok Serhed, along with British man Konstandinos Erik Scurfield were honoured together before their bodies were sent home, according to the YPG's Facebook page. Scroll down for video . Ashley Johnston, 28, was reportedly killed while fighting for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) on February 24 . Mourners held up framed photos of Johnston, 28, and the Australian flag to pay tribute to him. His coffin was adorned in a red cloth with yellow and green ribbon wrapped around it. On top of the casket, bright yellow flowers were attached. A picture of the fallen Australia was stuck at the foot of the coffin, while it was carried through the streets by four pallbearers. Mr Johnston, known as Heval Bagok, along with British man Konstandinos Erik Scurfield were honoured together . Mourners held up framed photos of Mr Johnston and the Australian flag to pay tribute to him . Days after his death, Johnston's mother revealed she did not know her son was fighting against Islamic State (IS) until he was killed in Iraq. On February 24, the truck he was travelling in reportedly broke down and his group were 'outnumbered and outgunned' by IS fighters. A fellow fighter also recalled how Johnston died, saying the Australian 'sacrificed himself' for his comrades. This comes as Johnston said in his final interview before his death, that he was afraid of returning home because he thought he'd be treated like a terrorist. Amanda Johnston, of Canberra, told The Sydney Morning Herald that she thought her son was with the Kurds because he was doing some humanitarian work. Ms Johnston said she only knew of his whereabouts from a text message sent by her son on December 30. Johnston had informed his mother that he was in the Middle East 'supporting the Kurdish people'. Ms Johnston learnt of her son's death on Thursday, saying she was shocked by the news and is in disbelief that he was killed while fighting ISIS. A former Australian soldier was reportedly fighting for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Iraq and Syria but was killed on February 24 . The Lions of Rojava, a band of volunteers that help recruit soldiers to the YPG, claimed Ashley Johnston was 'outnumbered and outgunned' The Australian reportedly died on February 24 in a small village near Shingal in Iraq, close to the border with Syrian Kurdistan . 'I just kept calling because I didn't believe it was true. I know in my head that it is actually Ash but the rest of me doesn't like to believe it's true,' she said. 'I just said, "I need to talk to you. You have to ring me. I don't believe that what I've been told is true. I need you to ring me and tell me what's going on … I need to hear your voice."' It is believed the 28-year-old's remains are in an unstable area near the Iraq and Syria border. But measures are being taken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to bring his body back home, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The Lions of Rojava posted this tribute to the Australian man they claim has been killed while fighting for them . It is believed the 28-year-old's remains are in an unstable area near the Iraq and Syria border . Measures are being taken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to bring Mr Johnston's body back home . Ashley Johnston told Vanity Fair reporter James Harking he was afraid of a lengthy prison sentence back in Australia. He served for seven years with Australia's Army Reserves before going travelling and becoming moved by struggle of ethnic Kurds against IS militants who have taken control of large parts of Syria of Iraq. The Lions Of Rojava said in a statement: 'What we can disclose is his story of heroism and self-sacrifice for the Kurdish people. Throughout his time in Kurdistan he had a positive impact on my people's lives though his humility and kindness to everyone he met. 'He was taken from us in a heroic assault on ISIS positions in a small village near Shingal. His squad of eight fighters were in a truck which had broken down and it was critical that they dislodge ISIS from their positions so they pushed on fearlessly with little regard for their own safety. 'They were massively outnumbered and outgunned but fearless in the face of this as they knew another ISIS death meant saving the lives of countless civilians. He was a fearless and exceptional soldier as well a great man,' the Facebook statement read. Fellow comrades say Johnston died after a military tank was encircled by ISIS fighters, so the Australian sacrificed himself as he 'jumped out of the panzer to cover us' A fellow fighter detailed one of the final conversations she had with Johnston, who said that he fought for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) because he 'couldn't take the children and women that ISIS-thugs slaughtered' Days later, a fellow fighter Bejan Dagli a YPJ fighter, told of her final moments spent with Johnston on the same Facebook page. When she asked the former Australian soldier why he was fighting for YPG he said: 'ISIS [another name for IS] is a world's problem. I couldn't take the children and women that ISIS-thugs did slaughtered and that's why l have come to Kurdistan.' Dagli says other comrades who witnessed Johnston's death said that 'he sacrificed himself for us'. When asked how, one of the comrades responded with tears in her eyes: 'The panzer that we were inside was encircled by the ISIS-thugs and he jumped out of the panzer to cover us that we could break the encirclement and then he got martyred while trying to cover us and break the siege.' Dagli also released photos she had taken of Johnston just five days before his death and wrote about how he was picking up Kurdish. Ashley Johnston (front, second from right) has been remembered by his friends as the 'best mate' Fighter Bejan Dagli wrote about the final moments of former Australian soldier Ashley Johnston . This comes after the YPG shared the grotesque images and celebratory message on their 'Lions of Rojava' Facebook page, claiming that the murders by YPG and YPJ were in the name of Ashley Johnston, his family and for Australia. 'The YPG & YPJ has killed many ISIS terrorists pigs in Til Hemis,' they wrote. 'Our Comrade from Australia, Heval Bagok Serhed, was martyred during the liberation of Til Hemis.' They gloated that the slaughter was a form of payback for Johnston, who they refer to as a 'martyr'. In the images soldiers hug, smile and pose with the peace symbol. 'We took revenge for Heval Bagok, for his family, Australia and the world. His comrades says that it was a revenge for him and his family.' Ashley Johnston, originally from Maryborough in Queensland but had most recently been living in Canberra, was remembered by friends and colleagues from an Australian army rifle brigade as 'a good man' and 'the best mate'. It is understood that Johnston is the first foreign casualty from the Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG). 'Defence is aware that a former Australian Army Reserve member is believed to have been killed in northern Iraq while allegedly fighting with Peshmerga forces against Daesh,' the ADF said in a statement. 'Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act, Defence will not release further information about the former member's military service or their personal details.'
Australian Ashley Johnston was killed in Iraq while fighting Islamic State . He was killed in Iraq after he joined the Kurdish People's Protection Units . It is believed his body is being sent home to Australia following the funeral . His mother did not know he was fighting Islamic State until he was killed . Kurds say Johnston 'sacrificed himself' when tank was encircled by IS .