PM sets timetable for troops' return as tributes paid to Yorkshire soldier

Tributes have been paid to a Yorkshire soldier and three colleagues who died when their armoured vehicle crashed into a canal in Afghanistan.

It came as the Prime Minister said he wanted all British forces to be home in five years.

David Cameron was speaking ahead of a ahead of a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama on the fringes of the G8 summit in Canada, at which Afghanistan is expected to be high on the agenda.

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The number of British troops who have died in the Afghan campaign has risen to 307. Eighteen UK soldiers and Royal Marines have already been killed this month, including nine in the past seven days.

They include Lance Corporal David Andrew Ramsden, from 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, Private Alex Isaac, Pte Douglas Niall Halliday and Colour Sgt Martyn Simon Horton, of 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, who were killed in the accident on Wednesday.

The men were travelling in a Ridgeback vehicle which came off the road and ended up in the Nahr-e Bughra canal near Gereshk in Helmand province.

L/Cpl Ramsden, 26, from Leeds, had a twin sister, Emma, another called Zoey and two brothers, Matthew and Jeremy.

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Having left the Army in 2007 after five years, he returned to service as a reservist volunteer in January and deployed to Afghanistan on attachment with the Mercian Regiment in April.

His brothers and sisters, along with parents Shirley and Eddie, said: "David lived life at 1,000mph. He was a normal young lad who would always cheer you up and often did things for a laugh. He loved socialising with his mates both in and out of the Army.

"We all loved him so much – he was very generous and he would do anything for his family and friends.

"Although we didn't see much of him due to Army life, when he arrived back his personality lit up a room and we will miss him so much."

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The commanding officer of 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), Lt Col Andrew Hadfield, said: "As a proud Yorkshireman he told it the way it was, but he fitted in well with his new adopted regiment and the men of the North-West.

"He lived the values of the Yorkshire Regiment, being honest, fair, gritty and proud. I am privileged to have had him under my command ."

Colour Sgt Horton, 34, was from Runcorn, Cheshire, and had one son. His sister, Caroline, said: "He was a loving dad, brother and son; he touched everyone he met. We will miss his cheeky grin. He will be fondly missed by everyone he knew and died doing the job he loved."

A string of tributes were paid to Pte Isaac, 20, from the Wirral, by members of his family.

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Mum Annette, said: "My beautiful darling son, who was a fighter and so brave, you will always be in my heart, my soul and my thoughts."

One of his two brothers, Robert, added: "Alex, I am very proud to be your brother; your strength will live on in all of us."

Pte Halliday, 20, from Wallasey, Merseyside, will be remembered for "his charm, the special times together and his humour", his family said.

They added: "Dougie loved his job in the Army and his comrades; he would have done anything for them. He was that special type of man."

Speaking in a host of TV interviews ahead of the G8 summit, Mr Cameron was emphatic about his wish for the UK's 10,000-strong Afghanistan deployment to be home by the next General Election.