A YOUNG soldier died in Afghanistan just 13 days before he was due to return home.

Tributes were paid by the family and colleagues of Lieutenant Daniel Clack, 24, understood to come from the Monkhams estate in Woodford Green, after he was killed by an improvised explosive device while leading a ten-man patrol into a village in south Helmand province on Friday (August 12).

Lieutenant Clack, who attended Bancroft’s School in High Road, Woodford Green, between 1998 and 2005, was set to fly home for a ten-day break on August 25.

His family and colleagues have been leading tributes.

Mother Sue, father Martin and brother James said in a statement: “Dan was a brave Rifleman and he died doing the only profession he ever considered. He loved leading his Riflemen and was so proud to be an officer in the British Army. There are no words to describe our loss.

“He will be forever missed by his mother, father, brother, fiancée and all those who knew him. He will always be in our hearts."

Lieutenant Mark Dorman, Platoon Commander, 5 Platoon, B Company, 1 Rifles, said: "Dan, you were the ultimate good lad. You are going to leave a huge hole in our tight group of friends. Everything I have ever done with you I have enjoyed.”

"I will remember most managing to always have a smile and a laugh with you no matter what had just happened. I know that I speak for us all when I say, sincerely, you will be missed by all of us here and back at home so very much.”

He had asked his fiancee, Amy Tinley, who works as Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox’s Parliamentary assistant in the House of Commons, to marry him before he went to the war zone.

He was a keen rugby player and member of Woodford Rugby Club while at school and was a member of the school's Combined Cadet Force.

Michael Page, the club's membership secretary, whose son James, 21, plays with James Clack, said: "It's just terribly, terribly sad. He was totally dedicated to the Army but it's such a tragic loss for everyone who knew him."

His death follows another former Bancroft’s pupil and subsequent teaching assistant, Lance Corporal Paul Watkins, 24, who died on July 16 when his unit came under fire on a routine patrol in central Helmand province.

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