Guardsman James Major, of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, was one of five British soldiers killed in an attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on November 3, 2009.

He was 18-years-old and from Cleethorpes.

Also killed were Sergeant Matthew Telford , 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, Acting Corporal Steven Boote , Royal Military Police and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith , Royal Military Police.

Guardman Major was survived by his mother Kim, father Adrian, brothers Lewis and Daniel, sister Paige and grandparents Harry and Pat Gilliatt and June and Fred Major.

Guardsman Major's family said: "Jimmy was a tremendous son.

"He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. We are devastated by the loss of Jimmy. He was a loving son, brother and grandson and a dear friend to everyone.

"We are proud of the fact that Jimmy was prepared to do his duty, helping the people of Afghanistan."

Guardsman Major was born in Grimsby on 12 November 1990. On 16 November 2008, he completed his training at Catterick. His first posting was to Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, where he conducted numerous State Ceremonial and Public Duty engagements.

In April 2009 Guardsman Major was posted to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and joined them in their pre deployment training. Six months after arriving in the 1st Battalion, Guardsman Major deployed to Southern Afghanistan on OP HERRICK 11.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "Despite his short time spent with the TAC group Guardsman Major had already made a strong impression. His character and humour had begun to shine through his naturally quiet demeanour. It is clear that this was a tragic and abrupt end to such a short career."

He was employed as a top cover gunner within the Commanding Officer's Tactical Group.

Guardsman James Major had only recently joined the TAC Group and was in the early stages of getting to know his new team. The TAC Group had been tasked with mentoring a number of Afghan National Police at a local Check Point.

Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker, Commanding Officer, First Battalion Grenadier Guards, said:

"Guardsman James Major died alongside others with whom he was working to mentor Afghan police and, through them, bring security and hope to a small dusty village in southern Afghanistan.

"He died from the hands of a man he was there to help. It was a tragic and cowardly attack. It was so at odds with the amazing results the men had achieved with the police and villagers in a short time.

"Jimmy Major had not been with us long. But in the short time he had served with the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, he had impressed us with his enthusiasm and soldierly talents. He was always the first to volunteer for a patrol, and wanted to be at the front.

"He resented being left behind in the base to man the radio or the sentry positions, even though it was his turn. He was a really good young soldier, and he kept spirits high amongst the team with a great sense of humour, positive energy, and remarkable culinary skills.

"He died young, as soldiers tend to in war. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, to whom he has begun his final journey. He leaves an immensely strong impression for one who was with us for such short time, and we are especially proud he was a Grenadier."

Staff at Jimmy Major’s former school, the Lindsey School and Community Arts College in Cleethorpes, described him as a “lively, honest and popular young man, who had a joke for every occasion.”

Interim head Jim Cunningham said: “It wasn’t long ago when Jimmy was a student at the Lindsey School and there are many pupils and members of staff who remember him well."

The soldier’s former head of year Paul Thundercliffe, said: “Jimmy was a real team player, having been a member of both the football and rugby teams.

“He was the sort of student you would want at school, very honest and very determined.

“He was a popular, funny teenager who wanted to get what he could out of life.

“Over the years he grew up in stature and maturity, and left a very decent human being."

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: "I pay tribute to their courage, skill and determination. They will never be forgotten.

"My thoughts, condolences and sympathies go to their families, loved ones and colleagues. I know that the whole country too will mourn their loss.

The attack happened when an Afghan police officer opened fire.

The five deaths took the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 229. It is the highest number of UK soldiers killed in a single incident of combat since troops arrived in 2001.