UK soldier killed in Afghanistan named as Corporal Alex Guy

Corporal Alex Guy was killed on 15 June

A British soldier killed in Afghanistan on Friday has been named as 37-year-old Corporal Alex Guy from the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment.

He was part of an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in Nad Ali, Helmand Province, when he was killed by enemy action, the Ministry of Defence said.

Cpl Guy's wife Emma paid tribute to him as a "kind-hearted man, with a passion for his work and family".

Since 2001, 419 UK troops have been killed in Afghanistan.

The MoD said Cpl Guy, who was born in Norwich and lived in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, commanded a fire support section in the south-west province.

His section has been conducting a partnered patrol with members of the Afghan National Army when they were caught in an insurgent ambush, it said.

The soldier had been leading his section forward to assist a group of Afghan soldiers who were pinned down by enemy fire when he was fatally wounded.

'Natural soldier'

Cpl Guy had been in the army for 19 years and served on eight operational tours, including Bosnia, Iraq, three of Northern Ireland and three of Afghanistan.

He had recently been selected for promotion to the rank of Sergeant.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Aston MC, commanding officer of 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment which is based at Bulford in Wiltshire, paid tribute to his "courage, selfless commitment and professionalism".

His mother Aileen said Cpl Guy was born into a military family who were stationed at RAF Coltishall.

"The comradeship and discipline and 'sense of family' meant everything to him. He was a wonderful and loving son, husband, brother, friend and comrade."

His wife Emma, who he married in 2006, said: "Alex was kind. A happy, full-of-life and kind-hearted man, with a passion for his work and family."

'Good friend'

Lt Col Aston went on: "A loyal, committed and thoroughly decent man, Corporal Alex Guy was a unique member of the Vikings.

"His honest, welcoming approach and impressive operational pedigree saw him achieve the ideal balance between good friend, wise mentor and tough commander.

"In his section he had forged a strong team which he led through the most dangerous of situations with nothing other than courage, selfless commitment and utter professionalism.

"When things got difficult Corporal Guy was exactly the person you would want by your side; he would quietly revel in the responsibility and never you let down. It is these attributes that have defined his career over the last 19 years and will remain in the memory of his fellow Vikings.

"Fiercely proud of his battalion and intensely devoted to his wife Emma and his family, his loss will be felt deeply across the battlegroup. Today we have lost a remarkable Viking.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this impossibly difficult time."