Bomb blast soldier had plans to wed

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Sergeant Christopher John Reed, a Territorial Army soldier with the 6th Battalion The Rifles, was on a routine patrol in Garmsir district, Helmand province, when he died on Thursday.

The 25-year-old's vehicle was involved in an explosion. He died at the scene.

It emerged that he had got engaged on the day he left for Afghanistan.

An MoD spokesman said he and his fiancee Heather planned to have their wedding when he returned.

The spokesman added: "The number of Blueys (airmail letters) passing through the postbag between Reedy and Heather was a constant source of wonder to his fellow Riflemen."

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Mereweather, paid tribute to a "talented, committed non-commissioned officer" and said the death was a "hammer blow" to the battalion.

Speaking from the unit's headquarters at Wyvern Barracks in Exeter, Devon, he said: "He was undoubtedly one of my very best section commanders.

"Calm, modest, easy-going but with a sense of purpose and obvious steel, he will be greatly missed."

Sgt Reed, from Plymouth, worked for Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard where he built luxury yachts. In a statement, his family - parents Brian and Joy Reed and brother Andrew - said he had believed he was making a difference.