Corporal Loren Marlton-Thomas spoke to the BBC on 8 November 2009
A British army bomb disposal expert killed by an explosion in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Cpl Loren Marlton-Thomas.
The Essex-based 28-year-old, from 33 Engineer Regiment, died on Sunday while searching for roadside bombs near a base in Gereshk, in Helmand province.
He was part of a task force dealing with the threat from such explosives.
A soldier shot the same day had earlier been named as Territorial Army Rifleman Andrew Fentiman, 23, of Cambridgeshire.
He had been in Afghanistan for just two weeks and had volunteered to serve with 3 Rifles Battle Group in Afghanistan, in an attempt to become a regular Army officer.
A mechanical engineering graduate, Rifleman Fentiman was killed while on foot patrol near Sangin, central Helmand.
Loz was one of the most irrepressible and positive junior commanders I have met
The deaths brought the total number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 234.
Cpl Marlton-Thomas - known as Loz - came from Thornton-Cleveleys in Lancashire and lived in Braintree, Essex.
He had joined the Army in 1998 and deployed to Afghanistan in September as a search team commander.
His wife, Nicola, described him as "army barmy right back to being a cadet".
"He did the job he loved and paid the ultimate price for his friends, comrades and country," she said.
In the week he was killed, Cpl Marlton-Thomas told BBC News that the process of searching for explosive devices was "nerve-wracking".
He said: "Each time we go out, we see a broad spectrum of devices, so it can be from the rudimentary devices all the way to quite well put together component parts.
"For the lads who are doing the searching, the colour has drained from their faces quite a few times.
"For myself, I'm a little further back but still I'm worrying about the guys on the ground so for me it is nerve-wracking as well."
Cpl Marlton-Thomas's commanding officer Lt Col David Southall described him as "man of great courage and commitment... who was truly passionate about his profession".
'Toughest role'
"His role, in leading teams to find [improvised explosive devices], was undeniably amongst the toughest in Helmand Province.
"Despite this, Loz was one of the most irrepressible and positive junior commanders I have met."
Rifleman Fentiman - nicknamed Fen - had intended to return to his civilian job as a regional sales manager for a software firm after he had completed his tour of duty.
On November 2, he wrote a blog to let friends know that he had arrived in Afghanistan and had begun training including "defensive shoots, patrolling skills [and] use of night-vision goggles".
Rifleman Fentiman died after coming under fire while on a foot patrol
He also wrote: "We are still waiting on new body armour and helmets that were promised to us."
The Ministry of Defence is in the process of providing enhanced helmets and lighter body armour to front-line troops.
A spokesman confirmed Rifleman Fentiman did not have the latest equipment, but that it would not have given him greater protection.
Battle group commander Lt Col Nick Kitson said Rifleman Fentiman was "liked and respected by all and will be sorely missed".
"A university graduate, he was something of a novelty to his platoon," he said.
"Bright and enthusiastic he fitted in instantly. I have infinite respect for the commitment and sacrifice of this brave rifleman who had so many opportunities ahead of him yet chose first to serve his country and his regiment."
One-Minute World News
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Loz was one of the most irrepressible and positive junior commanders I have met
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