Soldier's body flown back to the UK

Private Martin Bell, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died after he disobeyed a direct order so he could give aid to a wounded friend on January 25.

He was the 350th British serviceman to die since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.

The 24-year-old, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, where a private service was held for his family before the cortege passed through nearby Wootton Bassett.

Hundreds of people joined his family and friends in lining the town's High Street in tribute.

Pte Bell's mother, Elaine, was supported by his two brothers as she wept for her son. She laid a red rose on top of the hearse and waved goodbye as it slowly drove away.

Paratroopers from the training regiment in Harrogate also came to pay their respects for a man they said made the "ultimate sacrifice".

Pte Bell was south of Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand province when he was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).

He had been rushing to help the second of two of his friends injured by separate devices that day.

Private Stephen Mann of 2 Para - the same platoon as Pte Bell - was on leave when Pte Bell was killed.

Today, the 29-year-old came from Reading to say goodbye to his friend, who he said carried out "a very human" act.

"Professionally he was an outstanding soldier, very switched on and very dedicated," Pte Mann said.

"He was disobeying an order not to go to a casualty and provide aid, but he did so anyway and in doing so he paid with his life - but that was Martin all over - he would never just sit there and watch one of his friends suffer if he thought he could do something about it.

"I don't think there are many people that could see their friend in pieces and just obey an order to stay put when they think they could get to their friend and help them.

"Some more than others, and Martin was certainly the sort of bloke that would get up and try to go and help if he thought he could do anything for his friend."

Pte Mann, who is due to go back to Afghanistan in a couple of weeks, said he spent a sleepless night not knowing the exact details of what had happened.

"I was in bits. I was in pieces for hours," he said.

"I felt like I should have been there. I wanted to be there.

"It's something that should have been a shared experience - something that should happen to all the guys in the platoon.

"I wasn't there to play my part in it, there could have been something I could have done to help, but because I wasn't there I couldn't and felt f***ing terrible about it.

"It was extremely professional and just a very human thing to do. He laid down his life to help somebody else, which is just the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's a massive loss. He was a great human being."

Pte Bell, who was a police community support officer for three years before joining the Army in 2009, leaves behind his parents Simon and Elaine and his brothers Oliver and Philip.

In a statement released after his death, the family said: "Martin was proud to be in the Parachute Regiment and serving his country.

"He has made lots of friends easily at each point of his life's journey.

"He had a wicked and infectious sense of humour that would have served him well in difficult times.

"He made us all very proud and he will leave behind a hole in all of our hearts that will never be replaced."

Of the 350 British military fatalities since operations began in 2001, 309 died as a result of hostile action.

A further 41 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation.