TRIBUTES have been paid to a heroic soldier who sacrificed his life to prevent a massacre of innocent civilians by the Taliban.

Rifleman James Stephen Brown, from Orpington, had been in Afghanistan for less than two weeks when he was on patrol at a checkpoint on a route into central Sangin, northern Helmand, Afghanistan.

Two suicide bombers drove towards the checkpoint but the 18-year-old stood his ground and would not let them through.

The terrorists had planned to detonate their lethal device at a nearby market but instead detonated it at the checkpoint.

Fellow soldier Lance Corporal David Leslie Kirkness, 24, died at the scene and Rifleman Brown died on his way to hospital in Camp Bastion from injuries sustained in the incident.

Both men were from the 3 RIFLES Reconnaissance Platoon.

In a statement, the Brown family said: “James Stephen Brown, a son, brother, uncle, boyfriend, and a friend.

“You were a true hero and will be dearly missed.

“We all love you so much.

“You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts.

“Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could."

Rifleman Brown was born at Farnborough Hospital, Orpington, on January 9, 1991.

He joined the army earlier this year and was deployed to Afghanistan as a battle casualty replacement last month.

Rifleman Brown was a soldier with a bright future

The commanding officer of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson said: "Rifleman Brown was a young man only just embarking on his chosen career with the Army and The Rifles.

“He had been with the battalion for a desperately short time but was showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future.

“He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow Riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh.

"Amid this tragedy, we take some small comfort but immense pride in the fact that he and the soldiers who died with him, both Afghan and British, averted a much larger tragedy.

"Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business.

"What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, young yet keen to please and with a voracious appetite for work and fun in equal measure.

“It is all the more difficult to come to terms with the loss of one so young and we are all deprived of the joy of watching his promise unfold.

"Few will ever rival his commitment and sacrifice.

“We remain fiercely proud of his all too brief but lasting contribution to our current challenge.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

The officer commanding the B Company 3 RIFLES Major James Richardson said: "He had made a really good first impression, typical of the high quality Riflemen that are coming to us from training and that I am so lucky to command.

“He was already making his mark, and not just for his insistence that he should be known by his rather unflattering moniker of 'Fat Head'.

"He was beginning to show all of the hallmarks expected of the thinking Rifleman and was testimony to the generation of guys who are willing to take on the challenges that we face out here.

’The bitterest of blows’

"While he did not have a chance to forge the closest of relationships with his new battle partners his loss weighs heavily because of the unrealised potential and the strength of the initial signs.

“Our thoughts are with his family for whom this will have been the bitterest of blows."

"He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow Riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh."

Warrant Officer Class 2 Paul Kelly, Company Sergeant Major, B Company, 3 RIFLES, said: “Rifleman James Brown joined us at a difficult time but this did not faze him, he wanted to join his platoon and get started.

"Apprehension is something we all have to deal with daily but James seemed to take it in his stride.

“His loss has hit us all hard but our thoughts must be with his family at this very difficult time."

’A professional young man with a fearless character’

Colour Sergeant Paul Lucke, Recce Platoon Commander, said: “Rifleman Brown found making friends easy and showed enough even from the first patrol that he could deal with the rigours of Afghanistan.

"This was shown with him being appointed as one of our Vallon metal detector operators, an incredibly important job after such a short time with the platoon.

“He definitely had a bright future ahead of him within The Rifles.

"Unfortunately he never will be able to show us his full potential.

“My thoughts remain with his family during this difficult time.

“He is truly worthy of the platoon's motto: 'We lead, you follow'."

Sergeant Slater, Recce Platoon Sergeant, said: “What I saw of you, you were a professional young man with a fearless character which singled you out from the rest.

"You had an appetite for soldiering which was seen by all.

“You had all the tools for being a good recce soldier but sadly you were taken away. Rest! 'We lead, you follow'."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: “I was extremely saddened to learn of the deaths of Lance Corporal David Kirkness and Rifleman James Brown.

“They were killed as they were working side by side with their Afghan Army counterparts to provide security and reassurance to the local population.

"My thoughts and condolences are with their family, friends and colleagues at this sad time."