British Army Corporal Andrew Roberts

Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts, serving with 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, was killed in Helmand province on 4th May 2012 when enemy forces attacked his base in the northern part of Nahr-e Saraj.

32-year-old Corporal Roberts, a section commander, deployed to Afghanistan in March to command an Advanced Search Team, in the Operations Squadron of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Task Force. Born in Middlesbrough, he joined the Army in 1998 and had served on operations in Bosnia and Iraq. This was his second tour of Afghanistan.

Well respected as a plucky sportsman and a highly regarded physical training instructor. He will always be remembered for his trenchant efforts in the Regimental boxing ring and his enthusiastic Squadron PT sessions. A forthright, determined and professional Junior Non Commissioned Officer, Corporal Roberts leaves behind Lindsey, his daughters Jessica, aged 6, and Kayla, 3, and son Kyle, 5; Paula and Josh; and his mother Pauline and his father Stephen. He also leaves his brothers and sisters Tracey, Mark, Darren, Michael and Emma.

His children paid this moving tribute: "For our brave Dad who went away to build sand castles and stop the bad men hurting people. We love you to the moon and back. You are an angel in Heaven now looking down on us all, we wish yesterday had never happened and you were still here to phone us and take us out. You were the best Dad, we remember all the fun things we did, we will never forget you and will love you forever. You are our Hero and we will pray for you always."

Lieutenant Colonel Dom Fletcher, Commanding Officer, 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC, said that Corporal Roberts was "the epitome of a Pioneer soldier; brave, fit, robust and a 'salt of the earth character', who led his soldiers from the front and by example at all times."

Killed in the same attack was Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi, also of 23 Pioneer Regiment.