A soldier from just over the Monmouthshire border was killed in Afghanistan last week.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Leonard 'Pez' Thomas from Symonds Yat, of the Royal Corps of Signals, was killed alongside Guardsman Craig Roderick and Guardsman Apete Tuisovurua of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards on Sunday 1st July.

The three were attacked by small arms fire after leaving the checkpoint known as Kamparack Pul and fatally wounded. They were based in Forward Operating Base Ouellette in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Thomas enlisted into the Army in January 1986. On completion of training he joined the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and deployed on Operation GRANBY to Kuwait and Iraq the same year. He later transferred to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, finishing his regular service in 2001.

As a career soldier he joined the Reserve Forces, continuing his career with 37 Signal Regiment (Volunteers). More recently he held a Full Time Reserve Service appointment in Headquarters Army.

WO2 Thomas was in the twilight of an exemplary military career. This was his final operational tour and he was looking forward to spending time pursuing his passion for the outdoors and spending time with his long-term partner Rachel and his mother Sylvia.

WO2 Thomas leaves behind his mother, partner Rachel, and younger brother Tristan.

The family of WO2 Thomas paid the following tribute: "Pez was a military man through and through. He thrived in extreme environments, both in the military and in his spare time. He was a keen climber and mountaineer and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege to have met him."

Colonel Alan Richmond, late Queen's Dragoon Guards, Commander, Military Stabilisation Support Group, said: "Warrant Officer Class 2 'Pez' Thomas was a soldier of great experience, wisdom and dedication."