Family and colleagues have paid tribute to Wythenshawe-born Lance Corporal Jamie Webb, killed in an  insurgent attack on his patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, this week.

Corporal Webb of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), died in an ISAF Hospital in Afghanistan on 26 March 2013.

Parents Dave and Sue issued statment paying tributte to their son. They said: “We are so proud of Jamie being a Mercian soldier. Jamie is loved by his dad, Dave, mum, Sue, and his close family and friends.”

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Kimber MBE, Commanding Officer 1 MERCIAN, said: “A real character, a totally professional soldier and a great friend to many, Lance Corporal Webb was exactly the type of man you wanted around. Always with a smile on his face, always willing to engage in some witty and mischievous banter, he really did lift the morale of all around him.

“He was also an outstanding professional; bright, engaging and hugely talented. He had an obvious gift for intelligence work, which ensured he was at the heart of all that his company did on this tour. Despite his relatively junior rank he had a huge amount of operational experience having deployed to Northern Ireland, Iraq, and twice to Afghanistan. No matter what else he did, he was an Infantry Lance Corporal at heart and as such he was a talented and inspirational junior commander.

“Lance Corporal Webb was surrounded by his friends when he was injured. These friends and all in 1 Mercian Battlegroup will miss him terribly. We have lost a great soldier and a great friend. Despite our grief we are acutely aware of the indescribable loss his family will now be feeling and it is his family that our thoughts and prayers are now with.”

Jamie enlisted in the British Army aged 18 and joined 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment in September 2006. His first posting with B Company took him to Ballykinler, Northern Ireland.

As a result of his performance on operations in Afghanistan, Jamie was recommended for promotion and successfully completed a junior non-commissioned officer cadre in October 2011. He was immediately promoted from private to lance corporal and assumed the role of infantry section second-in-command.

Colleague Private Mason Stead, said: “Lance Corporal Webb, known to all as ‘Webby’ was a man whom all could call a friend. He was caring and always looked after the blokes in his Platoon, always making sure everyone was okay and getting involved in what they were up to. He led from the front and through example, and he was always a source of banter in the Platoon. He was always thinking of ways to make our bond ever stronger and succeeded in strengthening the friendships of those around him.

“Living opposite him in our accommodation in camp, he was always someone I could confide in whenever I had anything on my mind. He always had a way of cheering me up; a quality that everyone knows he possessed in abundance. Needless to say, over time, he became a brotherly figure to me. His passing saddens me deeply.

“We may move on in time, but we will never forget you Webby. See you on the big re-org where I promise that I will return that roll of sniper tape I owe you. Stand Firm, Strike Hard.”