TRIBUTES have been paid to a Carmarthen soldier killed while on duty in Afghanistan, the 313th Briton to die in the conflict.

Bombardier Samuel Robinson of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, was the 100th solider to be killed in the Sangin province of Afghanistan.

The 31-year-old from Pentre Morgan, Bronwydd, died last Thursday after being caught in an explosion while on a foot patrol.

Bombardier Robinson — known as "Robbo" to his colleagues — was a former pupil of QE Cambria secondary school, and had worked at his father's business in Carmarthen, Just Print, before joining the Army in 1999.

Proud

In a statement, his mother and father Alison and Dennis Robinson said: "Sam was doing the job that he loved and was proud to be doing it. We are all very proud of him and we will miss him forever."

Just Print general manager David Hammett said the tragedy had come as a huge shock to the small team of workers at the Priory Street firm.

He added: "We all knew Sam, he worked with us here for a couple of years from the age of 18. He loved the Army, and was very happy-go-lucky."

A 5th Regiment Royal Artillery colleague, Major Mark Wood, described Sam as: "an utterly dedicated and professional junior non-commissioned officer who epitomised everything that a surveillance and target acquisition patrol solider should be."

Carmarthen mayor and registered war pensioner Councillor Alan Speake paid tribute to the difficult role faced by soldiers like Bombardier Robinson.

He added: "As mayor I feel very deeply for this young man and especially his family, close friends, partners and comrades as they are the very first ones we must think of.

"As an ex-serviceman I know that some people who have never been in the forces will believe that soldiers are only there to fire weapons.

"However their main tasks have been to work closely with the people and to robustly protect the innocent — particularly the children — and ensuring that there is sufficient food and water for these poor people along with the repairing of schools and other essentials."

He believes the decision to go to war in Afghanistan was a mistake, adding: "The sooner we get our troops out with honour the better for them all and the nation as a whole."

Progressive Christian group, the Union of Welsh Independents, had just passed a motion calling for an end to the conflict annual conference in Carmarthen when they heard the news of Bombardier Robinson's death.

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