Afghanistan death soldier named

Cpl Mason was injured by an improvised device in Kandahar

A British soldier who died in a UK hospital on Sunday from wounds sustained in an attack in Afghanistan has been named as Cpl Thomas Mason.

The 27-year-old married soldier from Fife, of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was being treated at Selly Oak Hospital.

He was injured when an improvised explosive device went off in Kandahar province on 15 September.

His commanding officer said he was "highly motivated and exceptional".

Lt Col Stephen Cartwright added: "A late joiner to service life, his experience and maturity allowed him to be promoted twice in quick succession, evidence of the talent of the man and the dedication he gave to his vocation.

"He had set his heart on Special Forces selection next year and no-one would have bet against him reaching his ultimate goal. He was an immensely popular and modest man and he will be sorely, sorely missed."

Pastry chef

Cpl Mason, known to his comrades as Tam, was on his second tour of Afghanistan.

He joined the Army in February 2005, before qualifying as a mortar fire controller and winning a promotion to corporal two years later.

Cpl Mason was a rugged, experienced, and hardened soldier who had been involved with the fiercest fighting that the battlegroup had witnessed Capt David Mack

His wife Kylie said: "He was my best friend and my wonderful husband. I am distraught that this has happened and still finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that I have lost my honey...

"I know that I had struck gold with him and even though I am devastated and hurt that he has been taken from me I value and greatly appreciate the time we had together and will cherish these memories forever."

Mortar platoon commander Capt David Mack recalled Cpl Mason was a martial arts expert and amateur chef, with a special interest in pastries.

He described him as a man with "direction" and "real tangible potential".

"Cpl Mason was a rugged, experienced, and hardened soldier who had been involved with the fiercest fighting that the battlegroup had witnessed," he said.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Corporal Tam Mason, after his long fight for life at Selly Oak.

"It is clear that he was an exceptionally talented junior NCO who had earned the utmost respect both of the soldiers he led and the officers he reported to."

A total of 223 UK military personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001.