Lance Corporal James Johnson was killed on 28 June, 2008, by an anti-personnel mine in Afghanistan aged 31.

LCpl Johnson, who was known as Jimmy, was part of a vehicle checkpoint patrol operating in the Lashkar Gar area when he was killed.

He was serving with B Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and his death brought the number of British troops to die since the conflict began to 110 - 13 in June 2008 alone.

LCpl Johnson was born in Scotland on 3 June, 1977, and grew up in Chatham, Kent. He joined the 1st Battalion the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1997 before joining the Assault Pioneer Platoon.

He put himself forward for a demanding Close Observation Platoon (COP) course in July 2001, showing himself to be extremely fit.

He served a successful tour with the COP in Belfast from 2001 to 2003. On the Battalion's re-rolling to 16 Air Assault Brigade LCpl Johnson volunteered for a Sniper Course and qualified as a Sniper Section Commander in December 2003.

His skills as an infantryman were second to none and he revelled in his role as a sniper. Since then he served again with the COP for a tour of Bosnia in 2005, the Sniper and Recce Platoons and latterly with the Heavy Machine Gun Platoon before transferring to B Company for Op HERRICK 8.

His father Lawrence said: "I am very proud of my son for being a soldier. It was his life. He always wanted to be in the Army since he was a small boy. He loved it."

James's fiancée, Bernadette Broadley, said: "He was my best friend and my fiancée. I am very, very proud of him being a brave soldier. I want him to be remembered for who and what he was."

Lt Col David Richmond, James's Commanding Officer, said: "LCpl Johnson has made the ultimate sacrifice; a superb soldier and junior commander he died doing the job he loved, among men who held him in the highest regard. He set the pace among his peers with his fitness, outstanding infantry and leadership abilities, native wit and sense of perspective. He was loved and respected by everyone he served with and will be remembered for his humanity, the time he always had for people whatever the pressures on himself, his keen sense of humour and, above all, his professionalism.

"LCpl Johnson was one of our stars for the future; his death is a tragedy and his loss is felt by the entire Battalion. We have lost one of our best; a true air assault infantryman, a gentleman, friend and colleague with spark, wit and courage. The courage and commitment that he showed every day in Helmand Province has been an inspiration to us all.

"I have been immensely proud to have commanded Jimmy Johnson on operations and humbled by the sacrifice he has made. My thoughts and sympathies and those of all ranks of the Battalion are with LCpl Johnson's fiancée Bernadette, his daughter Shannon and his family. He will be deeply mourned, but never forgotten."