Serjeant Phillip Scott, 30, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was killed by an improvised explosive device near Sangin, in Helmand Province, on November 5.

Today, hundreds of mourners gathered at the picturesque Aske Hall Chapel, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, where Sjt Scott married his wife, Ellen, around a year ago.

In a tribute by Mrs Scott, read out on her behalf, she described her husband as a "strong, kind and gentle man" and said she would remember him always for his smile and "big laugh".

She said Sjt Scott was a "family man" and said he would "live on" in their two young children, Ellie, three, and one-year-old Mikey.

"I will keep them both safe, my love, they will always be told how wonderful and brave their daddy was," Mrs Scott said in her tribute.

"My life will never be the same without Phil but better and stronger for knowing him.

"Rest in peace my beautiful man, my protector, my love."

Around 500 people attended the funeral at the chapel, in the grounds of the Marquess of Zetland's country estate.

A number of ex-servicemen stood outside the gates to the chapel courtyard and lowered their standards as the funeral procession entered.

Sjt Scott's family entered the chapel ahead of the coffin, which was draped with a Union flag and carried in by a bearer party of soldiers following a fanfare played by a lone bugler in front of the estate war memorial.

Hundreds of people, who were not able to fit into the tiny chapel, packed into the courtyard and stood on a grassy bank to listen to the service over speakers.

Regiment padre Reverend Lee Gandiya gave a heartfelt address and spoke of having conducted Sjt Scott's wedding service.

"There are no words to sum up how we feel today," he said. "One moment, Phil was one of the lads, the next, he was gone. One moment, Phil had his whole life to look forward to, the next, no time at all. One moment, surrounded by family and friends, the next, separated from us all.

"Basically, we are stunned and shocked at what has happened."

He continued: "It seems like a moment ago when we were all gathered here for his marriage to Ellen."

Speaking of Sjt Scott's love for his children, the padre said: "You and I owe it to him to look after his children, to bless them so they are not disadvantaged because he gave his life for his country."

He also spoke of the soldier's "big grin and infectious laugh" and added: "We pay tribute to a greatly loved man, to all that he did and was. Through our tears, we can celebrate a life faithfully and generously lived."

Sjt Scott's father, Mike, paid a short family tribute in which he fought back tears as he described his son as a "very, very brave man".

The coffin was carried out of the chapel to John Lennon's song Imagine and placed on a stand in the courtyard, where a wreath of poppies was placed on top alongside the soldier's cap, belt and medals.

Bells tolled as a firing party fired three volleys over the coffin and the bugler played the Last Post to mark the start of a moment's silence.

Sjt Scott, known as Scotty, was born in Malton, North Yorkshire, but lived in Edinburgh.

He joined the Army in 2001 and was deployed to Afghanistan in September, alongside his brother, Robin, who is also a Serjeant in 3 Rifles.