Kent Soldier's Body Repatriated

17 February 2010, 13:37 | Updated: 18 February 2010, 13:04

Sapper Guy Mellors was part of the 36 Engineer Regiment based in Maidstone.

The 20 year old's body is being flown home to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire along with the bodies of other soldiers, killed in action over the past week.  Sapper Guy Mellors was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on Monday (15th February).

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:

"Sapper Guy Mellors deployed on his first operational tour in October 2009. He was trained as a Searcher in a Royal Engineers Advanced Search Team responsible for the detection of improvised explosive devices in areas deemed to be high risk.

"The main driver for Sapper Mellors enlisting in the Corps of Royal Engineers in September 2006 was that he could gain a vocational trade. He was schooled as a Building and Structural Finisher and on completion of his training he was immediately posted to 20 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment in Maidstone, Kent.

"Sapper Mellors was an experienced and highly regarded searcher and was first in line for a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Cadre on his return to the UK such was the progress he was making professionally.

"A keen rugby player who enjoyed both the physical game and the social aspects, Sapper Mellors was a fit and enthusiastic soldier.

"Born in Coventry in 1989, Sapper Mellors was a young man who lived life to the full in everything he did. He leaves behind his mother Linda, stepfather Bill, and his two younger sisters Lana, aged 14, and Kia, aged 8."

His mother, Linda Holland, has made the following statement on behalf of the family:

"We're very proud of Guy. He will always be our hero, he lived his dream."

Sapper Stuart Coleman, Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Royal Engineer Search Team, his friend, said:

"Guy was a top bloke; he really was one of the boys and one of my closest friends. He was the biggest smallest lad that I knew. He did his best in the gym but he couldn't shake those pointy ribs.

"He was also not one to hold his tongue, which meant that we used to argue like an old married couple. This would earn us the nicknames of "Mr and Mrs Coleman". He was usually right but I would never let him know it. Guy always put everything into each job and was very aware of what was going on around him; an awesome searcher. No matter what was happening he made the best of it.

"We seemed to be joined at the hip for most of the tour, wherever I went he wasn't far behind. From searching to getting up at 3am, we got each other through it. I trusted Guy with my life and I will never forget him."