Lance Corporal Jake Alderton, who was killed in Afghanistan on 9 November, 2007, was a popular soldier who would make everyone around him smile, his friends and family said.

LCpl Alderton was taking part in a British Army operation in support of Afghan forces in the Helmand Province when the vehicle he was travelling in crashed off a bridge. Another soldier and an interpreter were injured and taken to the nearest field hospital, but LCpl Alderton was declared dead on the scene.

Jake Alderton was born in the Bexley borough of London and had wanted to be a soldier since the age of 10. He joined the Army at 16 and trained at the Army Technical Foundation College in Berkshire. He then attended the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) and served for a year with the 28 Engineer Regiment.

After a spell at the RSME and qualifying as a Class 2 Building and Structural Finisher he joined the 36 Engineer Regiment based in Maidstone, Kent. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 2007.

He was deployed to Afghanistan in September, attached to the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to provide essential engineering advice to British and Afghan forces. His commanding officers said he had been hand-picked for his aptitude to the task.

He leaves behind parents Keith and Lesley, brother Joseph and sister Sarah, as well as his long-term girlfriend Nicole.

Lt Col Richard Wardlaw, his commanding officer at 36 Engineer Regiment, led the tribute, saying his regiment had been "fortunate to have a totally committed and thoroughly professional Junior Non Commissioned Officer who always put the interests of others before his own."

Major Gareth Baker said: "I have watched Lance Corporal Alderton develop over the last year and change from a keen young sapper with plenty of potential into a capable and experienced Junior Non-Commissioned Officer."

Friend and fellow lance corporal Matthew Kemp composed a poem in his honour which included the lines "Jake made everybody smile whenever he was there / He was somebody who always listened, someone who always cared" and also mentioned how he would often beat his fellow soldiers at poker.

His family released a statement that said Jake was their "sunshine and laughter".

"He was a beacon of light that brightened any room," it read. "He inspired others and asked for nothing and always believed in doing the right thing. He has touched so many people throughout his life in only good ways.

"We are so proud of our brave soldier and he will always be in our hearts and minds and never forgotten."