Soldier killed in Afghanistan named

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Lance Corporal James Hill, from 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards, died in an explosion near Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on Thursday morning.

Commanding officers said he was "a soldier with the most outstanding qualities", while his fiancee, Anastasia Newman, said he "touched the lives of every person he met".

His death took the number of British troops who have died in the Afghan conflict since operations began eight years ago to 221.

Miss Newman said: "James was the most wonderful, caring and loving man you could ever meet and touched the lives of every person he met. James is and always will be the love of my life and I feel so grateful to have had the time I had with him. He will live on forever in my heart and memories until we are together again."

His parents, Brian and Claire, of Redhill, Surrey, said: "James was the finest son we could have possibly asked for. We are immensely proud of who he is and all that he has done. James was immensely caring and always there for us and everyone who needed him. Spending time with family and friends was what meant the most to him."

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, said L/Cpl Hill was "from the very start of his career, a soldier with the most outstanding qualities".

Lt Col Gray said he rose to the task with "gusto and determination" and his actions were "second to none".

"He was a ray of light for the future of the Mortar Platoon with his skills, current experience and thirst for knowledge, and it is a tragedy that he has been taken from us so early in his life," he said. "L/Cpl Hill was, quite simply, superb at everything he did."

L/Cpl Hill was the second British serviceman to be killed near Camp Bastion this month. Acting Corporal Marcin Wojtak, 24, from Leicester, of 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, died after being caught in a blast while patrolling close to the perimeter of the base on October 1.