THE repatriation of three servicemen killed in Afghanistan will take place today.

The bodies of Lieutenant Andrew Chesterman of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, and Lance Corporal Matthew Smith, of 26 Engineer Regiment will be brought back to RAF Brize Norton .

They will now be joined by Guardsman Jamie Shadrake of 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who was killed on Friday.

Gdm Shadrake, 20, died of gunshot wounds when his checkpoint was attacked by insurgents in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand province.

He was born in August 1992 in West Bromwich and grew up around Cardiff and Wrexham.

He played rugby for his local team at Llanharan and was looking forward to playing for his battalion team, after joining the Army at 17.

Gdm Shadrake leaves behind his parents, Cathryn and Philip, brothers Carl, Kieran and Shane, and sister Kerry-Anne.

In a statement, his family said: “Jamie was a tremendous son and brother. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job that he loved.

“We are very proud of the fact that Jamie was prepared to do his duty in helping the people of Afghanistan.

“Jamie lit up any room with his infectious smile. “He will be sorely missed by so many who loved him.”

The Ministry of Defence said Gdm Shadrake was “an impressive soldier with a huge number of friends, who had a promising future in the Army”.

He was on his first operational tour in Afghanistan and celebrated his birthday on August 14.

The plane carrying the three serviceman will land at RAF Brize Norton at 1.30pm, passing the Memorial Garden at 4pm and reaching the John Radcliffe Hospital at around 5pm.

For more details and updated timings, visit oxfordmail.co.uk