THE 100th British soldier to die in Afghanistan this year was named tonight as Lance Corporal Adam Drane.

THE 100th British soldier to die in Afghanistan this year was named tonight as Lance Corporal Adam Drane.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, died as a result of small arms fire in the Nad-e Ali area, in central Helmand Province, yesterday afternoon.

Colleagues paid tribute to the 23-year-old, from Bury St Edmunds, as a “popular, quiet and intelligent” soldier.

His parents, Desmond and Jackie Drane, said there were “no words” to describe their loss.

The death brought the total number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 237.

This year has been the bloodiest for British forces since the Falklands War in 1982, and follows 39 British deaths in the Afghan conflict in 2006, 42 in 2007 and 51 in 2008.

L/Cpl Drane also leaves a fiancee, Sian Goodenough.

His parents said in a statement: "No words can adequately describe what our loss means to us. But knowing we are united with all Service families brings comfort.

"As his parents; together with Sian, his fiancee, and on behalf of Christopher, his younger brother, we wish to express our tremendous pride in Adam's achievements: as a son, a brother, and future husband.

"We wish also to honour his chosen profession, which taught him the true meaning of courage and self-sacrifice.

"In the course of his duties, Lance Corporal Adam Drane died at his post, protecting his Company, in the service of his country.'

Speaking in Pirbright, Surrey, Major Chris Barry, 2nd in command of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, said: "L/Cpl Drane was a well respected and popular soldier, his quiet and intelligent personality made him an effective and humble leader well able to relate to the soldiers under his command.

"His love of music, warm sense of humour and fun were appreciated by everybody and his death is felt by all.

"Adam was on his second tour of Helmand province and just as in 2007, he was a brave, stoic and reliable man in all situations who inspired and reassured all those around him.'

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