Tributes to Afghan-blast soldier

Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze, 31, from Manchester, who died while on patrol in Helmand province
12 April 2012

Tributes have been paid to a British soldier killed in a roadside blast in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze, 31, from Manchester, died while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Saturday.

His family said: "We are very proud of a brave, loving and sincere son and brother. He served for 14 years in the Armed Forces and was recognised as an excellent soldier.

"The Army was his life. He is going to be desperately missed by his family and his fiancee."

L/Cpl Breeze served in 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment and was working to clear an area near a checkpoint when he died.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hadfield said: "A dedicated soldier and leader, he understood the risks inherent in his chosen profession, and still continuously deployed in the service of others, selflessly and courageously protecting his mates and the civilian population around him.

"He was a stalwart of the battalion, and of the Javelin Platoon. Throughout his service he had been no stranger to danger, and approached his work with discipline and determination, but always with a ready smile.

"Known as 'Windy' or 'Breezy' to his many friends in the battalion, it is perhaps this smile that will stick most in our minds, that and his ability to always see the good in situations and people. He was engaged to be married to Lorraine, and talked endlessly about her and his family.

"We are proud to say that he is one of ours and always will be, standing firm at all times, and striking hard whenever the enemy threatened."

L/Cpl Breeze had served in Northern Ireland and Iraq as well as Afghanistan.

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