The 100th British soldier to die on active service in Afghanistan in 2009 has been named as Lance Corporal Adam Drane from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.

He was 23 and from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Lance Corporal Drane was survived by his parents, Desmond and Jackie, brother Christopher, and his fiancée, Sian Goodenough.

Desmond and Jackie paid the following tribute: "No words can adequately describe what our loss means to us. But knowing we are united with all Service families brings comfort.

"As his parents, together with Sian, his fiancée, and on behalf of Christopher his younger brother, we wish to express our tremendous pride in Adam's achievements: as a son, a brother, and future husband.

"We wish also to honour his chosen profession, which taught him the true meaning of courage and self-sacrifice. In the course of his duties, Lance Corporal Adam Drane died at his post, protecting his company, in the service of his country."

Lance Corporal Drane was born in Bury St Edmunds on 24 July 1986. He completed his training at Catterick in 2007 and within two weeks had joined 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan for the last two months of their Op HERRICK 6 tour.

On returning to the UK he completed a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer cadre and was soon after promoted to Lance Corporal.

Prior to deploying to Afghanistan for his second tour, Lance Corporal Drane had completed a number of demanding field exercises in the UK as well as achieving a semi-final place in the Inter-Company Boxing Championships of 2009.

The Ministry of Defence described him as "quietly confident", and said he was an extremely kind individual with a wonderful sense of humour. He was well-known and respected across the battalion as a soldier but particularly renowned for his love of music and guitars.

He deployed to Afghanistan as a Section Second-in-Command within C (Essex) Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Battle Group.

He was employed within 6 Platoon, C (Essex) Company and was responsible for commanding a four-man 'fire team' and as such was charged with engaging with and reassuring the local population as well as defeating the insurgents in one of Helmand province's most challenging areas. He had been conducting this task for nearly two months.

Lieutenant Colonel James Woodham, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, said: "He died doing his job and whilst playing his part in creating all-important security for the people of Afghanistan.

"Adam was a highly respected and professional Non-Commissioned Officer whose death has left a huge hole in the hearts of those with whom he served. He will be remembered as a quiet, confident and effective young man with a bright future ahead of him.

"Those of us who Adam leaves behind will never forget him and will draw inspiration from his memory for the work that lies ahead of us. I know that I can speak for all members of the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment - 'The Vikings' - in offering our thoughts and prayers to Adam's family and friends."

And Major Christopher Davies, Officer Commanding, C (Essex) Company, said: "Lance Corporal Adam Drane was a thoroughbred soldier with huge potential; having already served with distinction in Afghanistan in 2007 as part of B Company it was no surprise that he stood out amongst his peers as someone special when he moved to C Company in the summer of 2009.

"After nearly two months of almost daily engagements with the enemy, of which the majority were fierce and unrelenting, he remained hardy, focused and full of resolve. His stoical nature made those around him stronger and his sense of humour and genuine compassion for his fellow men allowed him to create a confident and extremely capable team.

"Lance Corporal Drane was naturally brave and courageous, and convincingly demonstrated this in the boxing ring as well as on the battlefield. A true inspiration to others, his absence will leave an irreplaceable gap within the ranks of C (Essex) Company."

Lance Corporal Drane died whilst carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in southern Nad e-Ali, Helmand province.

Since operation in Afghanistan began in October 2001, 237 British troops have lost their lives there.