Tributes to fallen soldier

An inquiry into Lance Corporal Keys' death is under way

Read this story in Welsh

The family of a soldier from north Wales, who was one of six military policemen shot dead in Iraq, have paid tribute to his work.

Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, who lived at Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, died on Tuesday.

He was in a group of six Royal Military Police who came under attack at a civilian police station in a village near Amara,about 100 miles north of the southern city of Basra.

Lance Corporal Keys was the youngest of the six soldiers killed in the attack, which the British Army has called unprovoked.

He was due to return home in two weeks' time.

As a tribute to him, I'll do as well as I can in the army

Richard Keys

The 20-year-old's family have said they are proud of his work in Iraq, but that Lance Corporal Keys was frustrated with the task of training Iraqi civilians to police themselves.

His brother Richard, who is also in the Army, said Lance Corporal Keys had helped him train for the military.

"He was a super-fit lad who never brought any trouble to the door," he said.

"I'm in the army and Tom trained me up to get into the army, because initially, I wasn't fit enough.

'Tribute'

"He used to take me out on runs.

"As a tribute to him, I'll do as well as I can in the army."

Lance Corporal Keys' mother, Sally, said that her son enjoyed the Army, but was frustrated with training the Iraqis to police themselves.

The family added they were still in shock but proud of their son.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said he was saddened by the news of his death.

"While memories of the conflict have already faded for many people, this terrible incident has given us all a sharp reminder that our servicemen and women still face extreme danger in the Gulf," he said.

VICTIMS OF ATTACK

Lance-Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, from Bala

Sergeant Simon Alexander Hamilton-Jewell, from Chessington

Corporal Russell Aston, from Swadlincott

Corporal Paul Graham Long, from Colchester

Corporal Simon Miller, from Tyne and Wear

Lance-Corporal Benjamin John McGowan Hyde, from Northallerton

"I send my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Lance Corporal Keys who must have been looking forward to welcoming him home."

Fourteen British soldiers were injured in the attack and at least four Iraqis were killed.

It was the greatest single loss of life among British forces since the start of the Iraq conflict.

British forces are continuing the hunt for the killers of the military police as the Government warned it would be days before the truth of what happened emerged.

An investigation is under way, which is also expected to examine reports that the soldiers fought against the armed Iraqi mob for up to two hours.

A senior British officer described the deaths of the soldiers as "unprovoked murder", but witnesses in the southern Iraq town claim the soldiers opened fire on demonstrators first.

There were no surviving British witnesses to the attack.

An urgent review of troop numbers and tactics in Iraq has been launched and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has raised the possibility of sending thousands more troops to the country.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the six men, from Colchester-based 156 Provost Company, which is attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade, had been doing an "extraordinary and heroic job".

The killings take the British death toll since the Iraq war began in March to 43.

'Murder'

British military spokesman in Iraq, Lieutenant-Colonel Ronnie McCourt, said the attack was unprovoked, adding: "It was murder."

It was the second attack on British troops that day after eight soldiers from 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, were wounded, three of them seriously, in a firefight with Iraqi gunmen in the south of the country.

Major Bryn Parry-Jones, commanding officer of 156 Provost Company, said: "We ask our men and women to risk the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country, and it is the sad truth that sometimes that sacrifice comes to pass."

Lance Corporal Keys is the second serviceman from north Wales to die in the Gulf.

Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, 24, of Llandudno, died when a US helicopter crashed on the first day of the war.