Mother’s grief for ‘her proud little soldier’

A mother today paid tribute to her "proud little soldier" killed in Afghanistan on Sunday.

Coline Bassett told how her 20-year-old son Samuel was "always the joker"
while military chiefs praised his bravery.

Rifleman Bassett of 1 Platoon, A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles died after a blast in Sangin, Helmand. He leaves his mother, father Simon and brother Jack, 18.

Mrs Bassett said Rifleman Bassett, from Plymouth, had told his family he was "having the time of his life". Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, commanding officer 3 Rifles Battle Group, paid tribute to "a Rifleman brimming with joie de vivre and potential".