Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2009, Lance Sergeant Tobie Fasfous from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was killed in Afghanistan. He was a specialist mortarman, and died in an explosion which occurred as he was taking part in a foot patrol alongside the Afghan National Army in the vicinity of Forward Operating Base Keenan, north east of Gereshk in Helmand province.

He had qualified as a sniper, and had served in Bosnia and Iraq as well as Afghanistan, and was considering pilot selection with the Army Air Corps. He is remembered as being unflappable, dependable and universally popular.

Major Sam Plant said: “In the short period of time that the FOB Keenan troops had worked together, Fas had become a very special member of the team. He possessed charisma in abundance and an infectious sense of humour that endeared him to all those who had the privilege of working with him. He was widely regarded as a ‘star’ of the FOB in every respect. On the professional front, he displayed leadership, drive and a real determination to contribute to the security of Afghanistan. His understanding of the ISAF mission was thorough, as was his part within it, and the safety of his fellow soldiers on the ground was always uppermost in his mind. There is no doubt that Fas had a very bright future ahead of him and he was looking forward to realising his dream of becoming an Apache pilot when he returned from this deployment.” Tobie was 29 years old.