A FAMILY is today grieving following the death of a former Hampshire soldier in Iraq.

Corporal Marc Taylor, 27, died when his convoy came under fire on the outskirts of the southern city of Basra on Tuesday.

Today his widow Olivia, 29, and two-year-old daughter Sophia were being comforted by relatives at their home in Bulford, Wiltshire.

The couple described as "deeply in love" were expecting their second child in April.

Cpl Taylor, nicknamed Spud by his colleagues, was due home to spend some time with his radiologist wife and daughter on October 12.

His widow said: "The Army was his life. He was always very positive about his time in Iraq and serving his country.

"He enjoyed the job he was doing in helping the Iraqi people rebuild their lives.

"All his family are proud that he died doing the job he wanted to do.

"He was a hero to us and to everyone who knew him.'"

Cpl Taylor's mother, Linda Roach, 56, and his brother Carl, 30, and her partner have travelled to the city to be with Mrs Taylor at her home in military quarters.

Cpl Taylor served with the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery at Tidworth, Wiltshire.

Last night his grandfather Ted Roach, 86, a former sergeant in the Royal Engineers, said: "We are all extremely proud of Marc and are just shattered by his death.

"From a young age he always wanted to be a soldier and I encouraged him in this because I know what a good life it can be."

Originally from Ellesmere Port in Merseyside, Cpl Taylor had served in the Army for 11 years. From 1998-2000 he was posted to 17 Port and Maritime Regiment based at Marchwood, near Southampton.

He was sent to Iraq to command a four-man team in April, responsible for the mentoring and training of the serious crimes unit of the Basra police.

More recently, he was involved in escorting workers for reconstruction projects in Basra province.

Cpl Taylor was one of two British soldiers killed when a Land Rover in their three-vehicle convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on the outskirts of Basra. The second victim has not yet been identified.

The pair died when they tried to help other soldiers injured in the armoured Land Rover.

As they pulled the men free they were killed by small arms fire.

The deaths bring the number of British service personnel killed since the start of the war in Iraq to 68.

A regimental spokesman said: "He was a calm, confident leader who gained the respect of all who had the privilege to know him.

"He was first class team commander. Cpl Taylor was a devoted husband and father.

"In the year he had been with the regiment he made many good friends and will be sorely missed by all, in particular the members of the Workshop and B Battery. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family."