Family's tribute to shot soldier

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The former school of a military police officer killed by a rogue policeman in Afghanistan paid tribute

The family of a Welsh soldier shot by an Afghan police officer have paid tribute to "an irreplaceable son, brother, boyfriend and friend".

Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24, who used to live in both Carmarthen and Tenby, Pembrokeshire, was one of five British soldiers killed in the attack.

Known as Nic or W-S, he went to school in Carmarthenshire and had moved to Brackley, Northamptonshire.

His family said: "Nic will forever more always be in our hearts."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it was a "particular tragedy" the five were killed by "one of those they were working alongside".

The soldiers had been mentoring Afghan National Police (ANP) officers in Helmand province when they were shot by an officer who "went rogue".

He always put others first and will be greatly missed by all who knew him Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith's family

Cpl Webster-Smith, who was in the Royal Military Police, had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan.

Born in Carmarthen in May 1985, he went to Llangunnor Primary School and the then Queen Elizabeth Cambria (now Queen Elizabeth High) secondary school in Carmarthen before moving to Tenby, where he attended Greenhill School.

He enlisted in the Royal Military Police in February 2005 where, in addition to Afghanistan, he served in Kosovo and the Falkland Islands, where he was awarded a Commander British Forces Falkland Islands Commendation.

Cpl Webster-Smith was the eldest son of Richard and Jacqueline, brother of Christopher, Samuel and Hannah, and partner of girlfriend Emma Robinson.

In a statement issued from the Ministry of Defence, his family said he was "one of the most loving, generous, kind-hearted men you could meet".

They said: "He always put others first and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

His company commander, Major Phil Hacker, said: "Cpl Webster-Smith's death is a tragedy to us all, especially so early on in the tour.

The British casualties were evacuated to the field hospital at Camp Bastion

"Cpl Webster-Smith loved Army life and he also knew and accepted the dangers that faced him during this tour of Afghanistan.

"He cared deeply for his fellow soldiers and this was reciprocated by all who served with him."

The four others who died in Tuesday's attack were Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Guardsman James Major, Acting Cpl Steven Boote.

Six British servicemen and two ANP officers were also injured in Tuesday's attack.

The gunman is being hunted after he fled the scene.

A total of 92 UK servicemen have now been killed this year, the highest annual figure since the Falklands conflict in 1982.