SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN NAMED

The MoD said that L/Cpl Davey, described as a first-class soldier and a pillar of strength, "died as a result of a tragic firearms accident".

The motorbike-loving soldier joined the Army in January 2004 and having completed training as an infantry soldier at Catterick, he joined 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in the same year.

As a Section second in command in 5 Platoon B (Suffolk) Company, the keen swimmer had been serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 6 since early April 2007.

An MoD statement said: "George was a kind-hearted, loyal and selfless commander who worked tirelessly for the benefit of others.

"His quiet and unassuming demeanour helped him achieve impressive results. With the more junior soldiers in his Section, he had a maturity beyond his years.

"He sought little praise or recognition for his actions, preferring to get on with the job in hand with the minimum of fuss.

"The welfare of his men was always uppermost in his mind. In the face of the enemy, he displayed all the attributes of a first class soldier."

The MoD said that on a recent mission in the Sangin Valley, he was "fearless" in the support he provided to his Platoon Sergeant, as he attempted to suppress the enemy under intense fire at close quarters.

"L/Cpl Davey was a pillar of strength to all those around him and he was a proven combat soldier whose influence will be missed in the Company."