Five soldiers' bodies flown into RAF Lyneham

The bodies of five British soldiers who died in Afghanistan within a week of each other have been repatriated.

Pte Lewis Hendry and Pte Conrad Lewis were shot on 9 February.

Pte Robert Wood and Pte Dean Hutchinson died in a fire and L/Cpl Kyle Marshall was killed in an explosion on 14 February.

They were flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire before services for their families were held. The cortege passed through nearby Wootton Bassett.

'Friend to all'

Pte Hendry, of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and Pte Lewis, of 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, were shot as they patrolled an area in the north of Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province.

They had been on a foot patrol designed to reassure the local population and gather census information in a small village north of the Nahr-e Bughra Canal when they came under fire.

Pte Hendry, who was born in Norwich and died three days before his 21st birthday, was said by his parents to have had a "true heart of gold" and a smile which "lit up every room he walked into".

His family said: "He was not only a soldier, a son, brother and grandson, but a friend to all."

Pte Lewis, 22, from Claverdon, Warwick, was "an outstanding young man" and made "an impact with just about everybody he connected with", his father, Tony Lewis, said.

The bodies of the soldiers were repatriated on Thursday

He added: "I think people need to recognise what these guys are actually doing out there...

"They all do it voluntarily, but I'd ask you to consider what it must be like facing that fear every day, fearlessly and with great courage."

Pte Wood and Pte Hutchinson, both of the Royal Logistic Corps, were killed in a fire at Camp Bastion - the main British military base in Afghanistan.

The cause of the fire, which happened in the workplace, is under investigation but is not thought to be the result of enemy action.

Pte Wood, 28, who was nicknamed "Woody", had recently become a father to Noah, and was looking forward to returning home to Marchwood in Hampshire after his tour of duty.

His parents and partner, Rebecca, said: "Rob was an adored and adoring son, partner, and father to his baby son."

'Very lively'

Pte Hutchinson, 23, of County Durham, known as "Hutch", was a driver with the Theatre Logistic Group's Transport Troop, based at Chippenham, Wiltshire.

His family described him as "an amazing son, brother and boyfriend".

L/Cpl Marshall, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

The 23-year-old soldier, from Newcastle, leaves his father Garry, mother Olywn and fiancee Hayley, whom he was due to marry in July after the tour.

His family said he was "a very lively, outgoing, loving and much-loved son" who would be sadly missed.