Mum pays tribute to soldier killed in action (From Daily Echo)

Mum pays tribute to Private Thomas Lake from 1PWRR

11:17am Tuesday 22nd November 2011 in The Tigers

The mother of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan today paid tribute to her son, describing him as a ''fun-loving action man'' who was ''so proud to be a soldier''.

Private Thomas Lake, from the Hampshire-based 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1 PWRR), died on Sunday in a blast from an improvised explosive device in the Nahr-e Saraj district of central Helmand.

Pte Lake, 29, from Watford, was serving as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) and was a member of a joint foot patrol with Afghan National Security Forces.

Today his mother Carol said: ''Tom was a wonderful son and I will miss him more than I can say.

''He had so many friends who will remember him as a loyal, fun-loving action man who was always the first to try anything new and usually excelled at it.

''Tom loved the Army and was so proud to be a soldier; he died doing something he loved and believed in. I will always be proud of my boy.''

His death takes the number of British troops who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 389.