Tributes to hero soldier

Corporal Jonathan Horne, aged 28, from Walsall was killed in an explosion while trying to to help casualties who had been injured in an earlier blast near Sangin, Helmand Province on Friday.

Rifleman Joseph Murphy, 18, from Castle Bromwich was also killed after attempting to carry a comrade who was injured in the first explosion. Both were members of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles.

Corporal Horne, known as Jay, who previously served with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets, had also been on operations in Iraq - where he was wounded in action - and Kosovo.

He leaves his wife Rachel, daughters Frankie and Jessica, as well as his parents and three brothers.

In a statement Mrs Horne said: "A sad farewell to my wonderful husband who was a devoted father, husband and a loving son.

"We will miss you more than words could ever describe.

"You were the most caring, thoughtful, funniest, loving and generous person I have ever known.

"You were so brave and we are all so proud of what you have done."

Commanding officer of the 2 Rifles Battle Group, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, described Corporal Horne as a popular "rising star" who was "tough, compassionate and full of infectious mirth".

Major Alistair Field, said he was "everything that a Company Commander would have wished for".

Major Field said:"My lasting memory is seeing him in action helping the wounded, calmly controlling the situation until tragically his young life was ended by the evil insurgents."

The other British soldiers killed on Friday have been named as Rifleman William Aldridge, from Bromyard, Herefordshire, Rifleman James Backhouse, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, and Rifleman Daniel Simpson, from Croydon, South London.

Corporal Lee Scott, 26, from King's Lyn, Norfolk, who served in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in an explosion near Nad-e-Ali.