Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was killed on Wednesday 1 July, 2009, in Afghanistan, a week before his 19th birthday.

He was killed by an explosion - along with Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe - whilst on convoy along the Shamalan Canal, near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, said: "Trooper Joshua Hammond was by all accounts an exemplary soldier, popular with his comrades and a true family man.

"Tributes to his bravery, skill and commitment to his friends and family paint a picture of a good and much-loved man whose contribution and presence will be hugely missed by all those who knew him.

Lt Col Marcus Simson, Commanding Officer 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, said: "Trooper Joshua Hammond enlisted in the Army aged 16 and a half and attended the Army Foundation College in Harrogate to complete his initial training. From Harrogate, having been accepted into the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, Trooper Hammond moved to Bovington to learn his trade as a Challenger 2 tank driver.

"He arrived with the Regiment in Tidworth in May 2008, shortly before his 18th birthday and within months had deployed with his Squadron to Canada where he spent a happy and fulfilling three months training on the Prairie. He quickly established himself as a professional and capable young soldier, full of potential and with a future full of promise.

"On his return from Canada, Trooper Hammond volunteered to change Squadron in order to deploy to Afghanistan. He threw himself into life in his new Squadron, the pre-deployment training and his conversion to the Viking vehicle that he would be operating in Theatre.

"He deployed with his Squadron to Afghanistan exactly a month ago. In the month he had in Theatre, he proved himself to be a superb soldier. Fit, courageous, and robust, he was the first to volunteer, the first to muck in and the first to offer help to others. But he was so much more than that.

"For he was at the heart of everything that was going on. He was full of laughter, was always ready to listen and he cared deeply about his mates."