MC holder was first to die in action since Second World War

Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC, 29, was on foot patrol in Helmand province taking part in a handover exercise when he spotted an improvised explosive device (IED).

An inquest heard the father of three, from Monifieth in Angus, Scotland, had knelt down to mark it with spray paint when it exploded, rendering him unconscious immediately.

His comrades carried him over a partially destroyed bridge to a helicopter landing site, but he died before he could reach the field hospital at Camp Bastion.

Acting Sgt Lockett, of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), had been leading the patrol back to their base, just 450m away, when the explosion happened. Two other soldiers were injured.

Lance Corporal Matthew Cornell, who had known Acting Sgt Lockett for seven years, told the inquest in Trowbridge, Wiltshire: "As we were moving back, that's when the blast happened.

"He was kneeling down. He had his weapon in one hand and a spray can in the other.

"It was inches away, and he was marking it."

There was silence in the aftermath of the blast, at about 8.30am on September 21, 2009, save for another colleague, Private Alan Sheridan, shouting: "Locky, Locky" – the acting sergeant's nickname.

When the dust cleared, it was obvious to the soldiers from the regiment, and 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment who were taking over duties from them, that Acting Sgt Lockett had sustained severe injuries.

He had already served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland and was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery after fighting insurgents and leading his platoon to rescue injured colleagues trapped in a Taliban ambush in Garmsir in 2007.

The coroner recorded a verdict that he was unlawfully killed while on active service.