Tributes to soldiers killed in Afghan attack

THEY served together and they died together... today the Grimsby Telegraph – and the people of North East Lincolnshire – pay tribute to Sgt Matthew Telford and Guardsman Jimmy Major, the two North East Lincolnshire Grenadier Guards killed by a "rogue" Afghan policeman as they were sitting side by side in a military compound.

Matthew, a 37-year-old father-of-two from Scartho Top, leaves a devastated wife Kerry – pictured here on their wedding day – who pays an emotional tribute to him in today's paper.

She described him as a "gentle giant" who loved his job.

The other local soldier killed was 18-year-old Jimmy from Cleethorpes.

They died on Tuesday with three other colleagues in one of the worst British atrocities of the war.

The five men were last night officially named by the Ministry of Defence. The other three were Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards and Acting Corporal Steven Boote and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, both of Royal Military Police.

Remembrance Sunday is just three days away. Let us dedicate that day to Matthew and Jimmy – and all our other fallen heroes.

In the words of the Rector of Grimsby, Canon Michael Hunter: "The sacrifice that these soldiers make reminds us why we observe Remembrance Sunday with such sensitivity."

For more tributes to the fallen heroes from their family, friends, teachers, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and local MPs, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.

This morning, the Ministry of Defence is expected to release more information and pictures of the servicemen.

See your Grimsby Telegraph today for coverage of the incident and tributes from local figureheads and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Pay your tributes by commenting on this story or visiting www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/lastingtribute

To read the comments left on our website yesterday, click here.