Tributes To Dead Essex-Based Soldier

16 February 2011, 11:43 | Updated: 2 March 2011, 12:33

Tributes were paid today to an "irreplaceable'' soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Kyle Cleet Marshall, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died in the blast in the Nahr-e Saraj district on Monday.

In a statement released today, L/Cpl Marshall's family said: "Kyle was a very lively, outgoing, loving and much-loved son.

"He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. He was due to be married in July to his fiancee, Hayley. We take comfort in the fact that he is now with his granddad who died some years ago.''

His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison described the 23-year-old, from Newcastle upon Tyne, as "irreplaceable''.

Lt Col Harrison added that moments before he died, L/Cpl Marshall had led his team in the discovery of a "huge bomb-making factory''

Another two soldiers were killed in a fire at Camp Bastion in Helmand the same day. Their next of kin have been informed but they have not yet been named.