LANCE CORPORAL MARTIN JOSEPH GILL

KILO COMPANY 42 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES - COMBINED FORCE NAHR-E-SARAJ (SOUTH)

Lance Corporal Martin Gill was born on 14 August 1988 and grew up in Nottingham, where he lived with his brother, John and his sister, Rebecca.

Lance Corporal Martin Gill joined the Royal Marines in April 2008 and passed fit for duty in May 2009. On completion of training, he was appointed to the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines. Within a year he was promoted to Lance Corporal and took responsibility of a four man team guarding the UK's nuclear deterrent. He subsequently moved to Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines in September 2010, where he assumed the role of Section Second in Command. During his tenure, he regularly stepped up to take on the role of Section Commander and his professionalism and enthusiasm were visible for all to see.

He was a keen individual who had a real passion for life. He was extremely physically fit and swam for his County before joining the Royal Marines. His passion for swimming continued within the Corps, swimming for the 42 Commando Unit Team at every opportunity.

On Sunday 5 June 2011 Lance Corporal Martin Gill deployed with his Multiple as part of a patrol in the area of Adensee in the Nahr-e-Saraj (South) district in Helmand Province. The aim of the patrol was to assess the atmospherics, meet and talk to local nationals and disrupt insurgent activity in the area, in preparation for future operations. The Multiple were an hour into their patrol when they were engaged by small arms fire from a nearby compound. Lance Corporal Gill was hit and fatally wounded and despite being administered immediate first aid, tragically died of his wounds.

He leaves behind his brother John, sister Rebecca, and girlfriend Lauren, who said:

"Martin Joseph Gill was proud to be a Royal Marine. He was always up for a challenge and unfortunately died doing what he had always wanted to do. He was the life and soul of every party, beloved and cherished by everyone. Martin will be deeply loved and missed forever. Rebecca, John-Daniel and Lauren xxxxxx"

Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Murchison MBE Royal Marines, Commanding Officer 42 Commando Royal Marines, Coalition Force Nad-e Ali (North) said:

"Lance Corporal Martin Gill or 'Fish' as he was known by his mates, was a Marine of rare quality. Despite his mum dying only weeks before the start of the tour, he was exceptionally keen to deploy; this was the mark of the man: passionate and dedicated to his profession and utterly loyal to his friends and fellow Marines. Joining the Unit last September, he immediately stood out, impressing with his first class professional standards, innate leadership skills and unrivalled spirit and determination. As a result he was promoted to Lance Corporal only 3 months later, a clear indication of his considerable ability and potential; he undoubtedly had a bright future ahead of him.

"His friends described him as morale in a box. Only last week he made an Afghanistan Monopoly board to keep his colleagues entertained; he was quick-witted and a constant source of banter. A real team player, he was the first to volunteer for the most challenging tasks and was an immensely popular and characterful member of Kilo Company. The eulogies written by his friends more than bear this out - they looked up to him and loved him like a brother. A true hero, he died taking the fight to the enemy in the finest traditions of the Royal Marines: selfless, resolute and courageous to the end, he now joins the distinguished list of Corps legends and will be sorely missed, but his sacrifice will be remembered for all time.

"The death of Lance Corporal Gill is an appalling tragedy and today is a truly sad day for 42 Commando. We have lost a brave young Marine and it has hit the Unit hard. However, our grief is nothing compared to that of his loved ones; at this most testing time our thoughts and prayers are with his brother John, sister Rebecca and girlfriend Lauren; may they find the strength and courage to face the difficult days ahead."

Lieutenant Colonel James de Labilliére DSO MBE, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, The Rifles, Coalition Force Nahr-e-Saraj (South) said:

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CORPORAL MICHAEL JOHN PIKE

A COMPANY, THE HIGHLANDERS, 4TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND

Corporal Michael John Pike deployed to Afghanistan on 3 April 2011 as a Multiple Second-in-Command in 2 Platoon, part of A Company, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. He was based at Check Point PEGASUS with Combined Force Lashkar Gah attached to B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (The Staffords) in Maiwand Province.

Corporal Pike was from Huntly, Scotland. He joined the Army as a Junior Soldier in 2002. After a tour of Iraq, he served with B Company, 4 SCOTS in Helmand Province in 2008, when they were deployed as the Armoured Infantry Company. A tough and respected field soldier, he sailed through his Section Commander's Battle Course and qualified as a Physical Training Instructor in 2007; a qualification he used to the full as he put his Company through a demanding period of physical training prior to deployment.

On 3 June 2011, Corporal Pike deployed with his multiple in the area of Pupalzay along the main route of Highway 601. He was taking part in an operation to prevent the insurgents from intimidating the local population and attacking the Afghan Police Check Point. Corporal Pike was leading the patrol in a contact with a group of insurgents when he was killed in action.

Corporal Pike was the perfect example of a Highland Soldier - loyal and fiercely courageous. Due to be posted to train the next generation of recruits at the end of the tour, he was a role model to his soldiers and a marvellous leader. He had been marked out for a bright and successful career.

He was a hugely popular figure, a dedicated father to Joshua and Evelynn and a loving husband to Ida; he will be greatly missed by all. Corporal Pike's wife, Ida, said:

"My husband would want everybody to know that he died doing a job he loved and that he loved our children with all his heart and soul"

Lieutenant Colonel A J Aitken MBE, Commanding Officer of Combined Force Lashkar Gah and The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland said:

"The loss of Corporal Mike Pike has been felt deeply by all ranks of the Battalion. He was an enormously popular, charismatic and engaging character; a natural leader in every way. As a junior commander he was entirely dedicated to his soldiers, leading from the front with every step and they would follow him anywhere. A natural practical joker, his innate sense of fun was a constant source of amusement and relief for the whole Platoon. He was marked out by his constant wry smile whether leading his company from the front at PT or pushing his section on when under pressure; simply unflappable.

"As one of the brightest stars in the Battalion, he had already been earmarked for having potential for the very highest promotion. Whether as a commander or as a friend he was the perfect role model. As a soldier, he was one of the most professional I have known, and he was the very epitome of a Highland soldier: fierce in battle, compassionate to all and unswervingly loyal to his friends - a code he lived by to the very end.

"Our thoughts and prayers are entirely for his family, and especially Ida, Joshua and Evelynn in Germany; above all else he was a deeply loving and caring family man. His loss has left a hole in the Battalion, in his company and especially his platoon. However, I have a strong suspicion that he would not want us to dwell on his loss, I suspect that he would simply put his kit on, make a joke about it and carry on in the same dedicated, professional manner."

Major Neil Tomlin, Officer Commanding A Company, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland said:

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