GEORGIE SPARKSTop commando Georgie Sparks was killed, along with another Royal Marine, in an attack in Afghanistan on 27 November, 2008.
Marine Sparks, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, and his comrade Tony Evans were taking part in a foot patrol north-west of the town of Lashkar Gah in the southern area of Helmand Province when they came under sustained enemy fire.
They were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades while on the roof of a building, and died from their injuries while being flown back to Camp Bastion by helicopter.
Marine Sparks, 19, from Epping, Essex, joined the Marines in 2006 and qualified as a sniper with 42 Commando.
His parents, Wayne and Toni, and sister Katie said: "We have lost our best friend as well as our son.
"We are deeply saddened and in mourning. We are so very proud of Georgie - he always wanted to be a Royal Marine.
"Georgie loved the outdoors - fishing, shooting, paintballing - and was very close to his family. We miss him so much."
Marine Sparks won the coveted Commando Medal during training and his fellow marines said he was hard-working and professional.
Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Stickland, 42 Commando's commanding officer, said he was a man who excelled at his job.
"Marine Georgie Sparks was a quiet, understated professional. He lost his life fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with his comrades, covering their actions with his expert sniper skills.
"His loss has touched the entire unit but no more so than the tight band of warriors that are the J Company 'Jesters'.
"The brotherhood of 42 Commando Royal Marines mourn him and remain resolute his loss will not be in vain."
Lance Corporal Lee Smith said: "Georgie - one of us forever. He was, and always will be, our troop's 'Baby', but don't believe for a second that counted against him.
"Wherever we were, whether on camp, in a compound, or on sentry, this man's smile could light up your darkest day.
"His life revolved around his two passions: his family and his shooting. He was the perfect soldier, the perfect friend."
Defence Secretary John Hutton said his thoughts were with the two men's families.
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of Marine Georgie Sparks and Marine Tony Evans," he said.
"It is clear that both were brave and highly professional young men who died doing a job they were passionate about.
"The loss of Marine Sparks and Marine Evans reminds us of the extreme challenges that our forces in Afghanistan face."
The marines' death came just three days after another marine, Alexander Lucas, 24, from Arbroath-based 45 Commando, was killed by a roadside bomb in the Kajaki area of Helmand.
On 12 November, 2008, two other marines, Robert McKibben and Neil Dunstan, died during a patrol in Garmsir district of Southern Helmand. Their vehicle was hit by an explosive device as they patrolled with Afghan security forces.
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