British bomb disposal expert Captain Daniel Read was one of six Nato troops killed in a series of incidents in Afghanistan on 11 January, 2009.

The senior soldier was from the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, part of the Counter-IED Task Force.

He was killed by an explosion in the Musa Qaleh area of Helmand Province and was the 247th British serviceman to die in the conflict since 2001. The other troops who died on the same day in separate incidents were from America and France.

Captain Read was survived by his wife Lorraine, his parents and sisters.

Captain Read's widow made the following statement: "Dan was so brave, he was my hero and best friend, he was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and friend. He will never be forgotten and always in my heart. I'm so proud and privileged to have been your wife."

Captain Read was 31 and from Newquay. He was born in Kent in December 1978 and joined the army in 1996 as a sapper with the Corps of Royal Engineers.

He became advanced in bomb disposal technique after first experiencing it in Afghanistan in 2002 and was said to be "hooked" and "passionate" about the discipline.

He had recently returned to the frontline after being injured in a previous blast.

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, his commanding officer, paid tribute to Capt Read’s “selfless commitment, loyalty and deep-seated courage”

“Dan Read was filled with a zest for life, and I found him instantly likeable when I first met him in November 2008,” said Lt Col Bex.

“He epitomised the values of selfless commitment, loyalty and deep-seated courage. Such was his professionalism and determination that even an injury sustained in a bomb blast in October 2009 could not keep him away for more than two months and he returned to theatre in December 2009, as soon as his injuries were healed.

“Despite the inherent dangers, Dan was determined to return to Afghanistan - he had a job to finish and a team to re-join.”

Lt/Col David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "His resolution and his gallantry in the fight to protect the lives of others from Improvised Explosive Devices in Helmand will not be forgotten."