'We will miss him greatly'

4:49pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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FRIENDS and colleagues paid tribute to a Welsh soldier, killed last week in a shoot-out with the Taliban while serving in Afghanistan.

Sgt Maj Michael Williams, 40, of Bedwas, was one of two British soldiers killed in the same operation on Tuesday, fighting Taliban forces in the Upper Sangin Valley.

He was a member of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and was commanding the C company 's fire support group when he was killed.

He joined the regiment in 1986 and was known as Mark or Weasel to his Army colleagues and was described as one of the most experienced and popular soldiers in the regiment where he spent almost his whole 22-year career.

He was also an ardent Cardiff City fan, even taking early leave to watch his beloved team play in the FA cup final last month.

Following his death, Sgt Maj Williams company commander, Major Adam Dawson, paid tribute to him: "His humanity was ever present and touched all aspects of his soldiering and his soldiers, who grew in his example.

"As far as his trade was concerned, what he did not know about machine gunnery was not worth knowing, he was a true professional and took great pride in his vocation.

"Whilst we will miss him greatly, we will all be thankful and consider ourselves blessed to have known him. "

His close friend, Sgt Maj Karl Mitchell, said: "I think of him in two ways: Mark the soldier and Mark the friend.

"The soldier was one of the most professional men I 've ever had the honour of working with."

Sgt Maj Williams died on the same day as Private Joe Whittaker, 20, of Stratford-upon-Avon, who also served in the Parachute Regiment.