ave been made to the five British soldiers killed on Tuesday by the Afghan policeman secretly working for the Taliban.
Gordon Brown said the deaths were a 'terrible loss' for the UK mission in Afghanistan, while defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said the betrayal by someone they were working alongside was a 'particular tragedy'.
Warrant Officer First Class Darren Chant, Sergeant Matthew Telford and Guardsman James Major, all from First Battalion, the Grenadier Guards, and Acting Corporal Steven Boote and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith from the royal military police all died in Tuesday's shooting at a checkpoint in Helmand province.
The prime minister was due to make a major speech on Afghanistan on Friday to offer reassurances over fears of Taliban infiltration in the Afghan national police (ANP).
On Thursday the Ministry of Defence released tributes to the five dead soldiers from their families and officers.
Warrant Officer (First Class) Chant was leading the team mentoring a number of ANP officers at the fatal checkpoint that led into the bazaar at Nad-e-Ali.
The Walthamstow-born soldier, 40, was described as being carved from the 'very rock that forms the foundations of a regiment'.
On the day he died he was informed of a commission in the Grenadiers as an officer.
WO1 Chant leaves behind his wife Nausheen and three children from his previous marriage, Connor, 16, Adam, ten, and Victoria, eight.
Mrs Chant said she was 'devastated' by the loss of her husband.
'Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy,' she said.
'For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him.'
His Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker added: 'All that remains here is an enormous gap in our ranks; but in time our memories of him will overfill the void.'
Sergeant Telford was also part of the team mentoring ANP officers.
The 37-year-old, from Grimsby, was described as a 'gentle giant' by his comrades, a thoughtful and caring family man 'who would work tirelessly all hours of the day to help someone out'.
Sgt Telford leaves behind his wife Kerry and their two sons. In a statement his family said: 'Matt was a larger than life character – a gentle giant of a man. He will be sadly missed by his wife Kerry and sons Harry and Callum, his extensive family and friends and his colleagues.'
Cpl Webster-Smith, known as Nic or W-S, was described as an 'irreplaceable son, brother boyfriend and friend' by his family and partner Emma Robinson, who said she had lost her 'soulmate'.
'One of the most loving, generous, kind-hearted men you could meet,' his family said in a statement of the 24-year-old, from West Wales.
'He always put others first and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Nic will forevermore always be in our hearts.'
Cpl Webster-Smith's colleague in the royal military police, Acting Cpl Boote, known as Booty, was also in the territorial army.
The 22-year-old, from Liverpool, had aspirations of joining the police and was described as a motorbike-fanatic by his family, who said he was a 'wonderful, genuine young man'.
'He would light up a room with a single smile and left a lasting impression on all he met,' they said.
'A son and friend who can never be replaced, but never be removed from our hearts. An only child but never alone, who through family and friends led a full and happy life.'
Guardsman Major, known as Jimmy, was just 19. Part of a 16-man team mentoring ANP officers, he had recently become top cover gunner with his commanding officer's tactical group.
The teenager had already made a 'strong impression' on his comrades despite his short time in the army, his officers said.
He leaves behind his mother Kim, father Adrian, brothers Lewis and Daniel, sister Paige and grandparents Harry and Pat Gilliatt, and June and Fred Major
They said in a statement: 'Jimmy was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. We are devastated by the loss of Jimmy. He was a loving son, brother and grandson and a dear friend to everyone. We are proud of the fact that Jimmy was prepared to do his duty, helping the people of Afghanistan.'
Defence secretary Mr Ainsworth added these words: 'The memory of WO1 Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith, Acting Cpl Steven Boote and Guardsman James Major, will live on. They were men of courage who died building security in Afghanistan and protecting people in the UK from terrorism.
'My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts.'
Gordon Brown said the deaths were a 'terrible loss' for the UK mission in Afghanistan, while defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said the betrayal by someone they were working alongside was a 'particular tragedy'.
Warrant Officer First Class Darren Chant, Sergeant Matthew Telford and Guardsman James Major, all from First Battalion, the Grenadier Guards, and Acting Corporal Steven Boote and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith from the royal military police all died in Tuesday's shooting at a checkpoint in Helmand province.
The prime minister was due to make a major speech on Afghanistan on Friday to offer reassurances over fears of Taliban infiltration in the Afghan national police (ANP).
On Thursday the Ministry of Defence released tributes to the five dead soldiers from their families and officers.
Warrant Officer (First Class) Chant was leading the team mentoring a number of ANP officers at the fatal checkpoint that led into the bazaar at Nad-e-Ali.
The Walthamstow-born soldier, 40, was described as being carved from the 'very rock that forms the foundations of a regiment'.
On the day he died he was informed of a commission in the Grenadiers as an officer.
WO1 Chant leaves behind his wife Nausheen and three children from his previous marriage, Connor, 16, Adam, ten, and Victoria, eight.
Mrs Chant said she was 'devastated' by the loss of her husband.
'Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy,' she said.
'For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him.'
His Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker added: 'All that remains here is an enormous gap in our ranks; but in time our memories of him will overfill the void.'
Sergeant Telford was also part of the team mentoring ANP officers.
The 37-year-old, from Grimsby, was described as a 'gentle giant' by his comrades, a thoughtful and caring family man 'who would work tirelessly all hours of the day to help someone out'.
Sgt Telford leaves behind his wife Kerry and their two sons. In a statement his family said: 'Matt was a larger than life character – a gentle giant of a man. He will be sadly missed by his wife Kerry and sons Harry and Callum, his extensive family and friends and his colleagues.'
Cpl Webster-Smith, known as Nic or W-S, was described as an 'irreplaceable son, brother boyfriend and friend' by his family and partner Emma Robinson, who said she had lost her 'soulmate'.
'One of the most loving, generous, kind-hearted men you could meet,' his family said in a statement of the 24-year-old, from West Wales.
'He always put others first and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Nic will forevermore always be in our hearts.'
Cpl Webster-Smith's colleague in the royal military police, Acting Cpl Boote, known as Booty, was also in the territorial army.
The 22-year-old, from Liverpool, had aspirations of joining the police and was described as a motorbike-fanatic by his family, who said he was a 'wonderful, genuine young man'.
'He would light up a room with a single smile and left a lasting impression on all he met,' they said.
'A son and friend who can never be replaced, but never be removed from our hearts. An only child but never alone, who through family and friends led a full and happy life.'
Guardsman Major, known as Jimmy, was just 19. Part of a 16-man team mentoring ANP officers, he had recently become top cover gunner with his commanding officer's tactical group.
The teenager had already made a 'strong impression' on his comrades despite his short time in the army, his officers said.
He leaves behind his mother Kim, father Adrian, brothers Lewis and Daniel, sister Paige and grandparents Harry and Pat Gilliatt, and June and Fred Major
They said in a statement: 'Jimmy was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. We are devastated by the loss of Jimmy. He was a loving son, brother and grandson and a dear friend to everyone. We are proud of the fact that Jimmy was prepared to do his duty, helping the people of Afghanistan.'
Defence secretary Mr Ainsworth added these words: 'The memory of WO1 Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith, Acting Cpl Steven Boote and Guardsman James Major, will live on. They were men of courage who died building security in Afghanistan and protecting people in the UK from terrorism.
'My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts.'
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