Soldier's body flown home

THE body of a brave Sussex soldier has been flown home from Afghanistan.

Private Daniel Gamble, 22, from Uckfield, died in a suicide bomb attack on June 8.

His body arrived on a C17 airplane at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, at 2pm yesterday (Monday) for a military repatriation ceremony.

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The remains of four other soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, were also on the plane.

They included two men who died with Private Gamble, Private Nathan Cuthbertson and Private Charles Murray.

Private Gamble was a rifleman and linguist with 4 Platoon, B Company.

The former Uckfield Community Technology College student died taking part in a 12-man patrol.

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The soldiers were returning to a remote operating base known as Inkerman, north of Sangin in Helmand Province.

At around 11am local time a man was seen acting oddly a few yards ahead of the patrol.

The stranger reached under his cloak and detonated a hidden explosive vest.

Private Gamble died instantly.

Tributes to Private Gamble have poured into the Express offices.

His parents called him a 'true hero.'

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In a statement, they said: 'He will be missed by so many people more than he would ever know.'

Former school classmate Hayley Coleman said: 'He was always laughing at school and from the sounds of things he grew to be a brave, amazing man.'

The bodies of two other soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, arrived at RAF Lyneham.

Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Jeff Doherty died during an exchange of fire with Taliban fighters in Helmand Province on June 12.