14/06/2010

A British soldier killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze, 31, from Manchester, died while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Saturday.

His family said: "We are very proud of a brave, loving and sincere son and brother.

“He served for 14 years in the Armed Forces and was recognised as an excellent soldier.

“The Army was his life. He is going to be desperately missed by his family and his fiancée."

In a statement from the MoD, Lt Col Andrew Hadfield said L/Cpl Breeze was "a dedicated soldier and leader" who was "a stalwart of the battalion" who approached his work "with discipline and determination, but always with a ready smile".

"Known as ‘Windy' or ‘Breezy' to his many friends in the Battalion, it is perhaps this smile that will stick most in our minds, that and his ability to always see the good in situations and people.

“He was engaged to be married to Lorraine, and talked endlessly about her and his family.

“We are proud to say that he is one of ours and always will be, standing firm at all times, and striking hard whenever the enemy threatened.”

Lance Corporal Breeze enlisted into the Army in February 1996. He had served in the United Kingdom and Cyprus, and on operations three times in Northern Ireland, twice in Iraq and also in Afghanistan.

The death of Corporal Breeze brings the death toll in Afghanistan 295 since operations began there in 2001.